Irish Examiner Property Supplement

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Property

03.03.2012

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& Interiors

Photo by Denis Scannell

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:01/03/2012Time:12:42:38Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:1

Anchors aweigh The romantically-sited home of Lewis and Loretta Brennan Glucksman comes up for sale in Cork harbour

PLUS • MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF FEATURE • STYLISH HOMES • GET THE LOOK • ANTIQUES • STEP BY STEP DIY

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:30:43Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:2

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XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

XP1 - V1

Tommy Barker reports

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It’s been years since a Ballincurrig, Douglas family home came up for this sort of money — a sub €300,000 asking price is pinned to the four-bed semi-d called Cremore, in this quietest of cul de sac estates.

Correction: Ballincurrig is actually (in proper Douglas/Cork parlance at least) a ’park,’ rather than an estate: it’s the sort of setting where houses have names, rather than numbers.

But, to be egalitarian, Cremore also has its number displayed, it’s No 24 in the park - but it’s the asking price of €295,000 via agents Casey and Kingston that most people will want to number crunch.

That level, within reach of double income first time buyers, contrasts sharply with a similar sized Ballincurrig four-bed across the road, with a price ‘reduced’ and then frozen at €490,000, and on the market for quite a while, also via Casey and Kingston.

Take it as read: No 24 aka Cremore

CONTENTS 4

TRADING A former college principal’s home is being sold by Teagasc.

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upgrading and/or extending, and right isn’t going to be around too long if its now has only the one, main bathroom. vendors are genuine enough about the But, it has a trump card up its sleeve quoted AMV. It really does seem like a — a west-facing back garden. snip for the location and the local That aspect is pitch-perfect for any cachet, even though many of the houses aren’t a whole lot different from those in extension plans, whilst there’s also a detached some of the garage which neighbouring Location: Douglas, Cork give further Douglas ‘thruPrice: €295,000 scope and roads,’ and the potential. gardens aren’t Size: 110 sq m (1,200 sq ft) Back in the overly generous Bedrooms: 4 boom several either.

Ballincurrig Cremore, sort BER rating: Pending houses of this of slab-faced with Broadband: Yes mid-1900s four large vintage made windows Best asset: Cul de sac setting big €500/600kunbroken by a plus money, even so much as but few had this favourable aspect. One bay window, is at the southern end of sale in 2006 touched around €750k, the cul de sac block, and is in fairly while in 2009 another made in the low original and untouched condition, at €400,000, and has been hugely extended. least in terms of extension. Although it And, that’s why estate agent Andrew had a kitchen put in some years ago, as Donoghue of Casey and Kingston estate well as pvc double glazing, it needs

MORTGAGES We’ve a special feature on Mortgage Interest Relief for FTBs this year.

14 FEATURES There’s a cedar link between two detached houses in Cork and Waterford.

16 COVER Top of the world.

East Grove house seems to attract buyers from afar.

20 22 27 28 30

agents (who earlier this month got around €500,000 for the period do-er upper Wood House on seven acres on the Rochestown Road) is feeling positive about Cremore’s prospects.

It’s a walk to Douglas village, or a walk to Cork city centre, with schools, public park, swimming pool and shops all nearby, and so could make a great base to put down family roots in.

Rooms include two side-by-side front reception rooms, kitchen with oak units, and four bedrooms, two of them doubles, plus family bathroom. Gas heating is installed, and there’s a good garage and boiler house in the mature back garden, while the front garden has privacy thanks to a high surrounding wall, with off-street parking.

VERDICT: Most who bought here in the past few years spent heavily on upgrades and extensions and they paid a whole heap more than perfectly-sited Cremore to begin with.

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES GARDENING

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

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IRISH EXAMINER �� Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:30:43Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:2

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

XP1 - V1

Tommy Barker reports

������ �� ����� ����� � �� � � � ��� �����

It’s been years since a Ballincurrig, Douglas family home came up for this sort of money — a sub €300,000 asking price is pinned to the four-bed semi-d called Cremore, in this quietest of cul de sac estates.

Correction: Ballincurrig is actually (in proper Douglas/Cork parlance at least) a ’park,’ rather than an estate: it’s the sort of setting where houses have names, rather than numbers.

But, to be egalitarian, Cremore also has its number displayed, it’s No 24 in the park - but it’s the asking price of €295,000 via agents Casey and Kingston that most people will want to number crunch.

That level, within reach of double income first time buyers, contrasts sharply with a similar sized Ballincurrig four-bed across the road, with a price ‘reduced’ and then frozen at €490,000, and on the market for quite a while, also via Casey and Kingston.

Take it as read: No 24 aka Cremore

CONTENTS 4

TRADING A former college principal’s home is being sold by Teagasc.

8

upgrading and/or extending, and right isn’t going to be around too long if its now has only the one, main bathroom. vendors are genuine enough about the But, it has a trump card up its sleeve quoted AMV. It really does seem like a — a west-facing back garden. snip for the location and the local That aspect is pitch-perfect for any cachet, even though many of the houses aren’t a whole lot different from those in extension plans, whilst there’s also a detached some of the garage which neighbouring Location: Douglas, Cork give further Douglas ‘thruPrice: €295,000 scope and roads,’ and the potential. gardens aren’t Size: 110 sq m (1,200 sq ft) Back in the overly generous Bedrooms: 4 boom several either.

Ballincurrig Cremore, sort BER rating: Pending houses of this of slab-faced with Broadband: Yes mid-1900s four large vintage made windows Best asset: Cul de sac setting big €500/600kunbroken by a plus money, even so much as but few had this favourable aspect. One bay window, is at the southern end of sale in 2006 touched around €750k, the cul de sac block, and is in fairly while in 2009 another made in the low original and untouched condition, at €400,000, and has been hugely extended. least in terms of extension. Although it And, that’s why estate agent Andrew had a kitchen put in some years ago, as Donoghue of Casey and Kingston estate well as pvc double glazing, it needs

MORTGAGES We’ve a special feature on Mortgage Interest Relief for FTBs this year.

14 FEATURES There’s a cedar link between two detached houses in Cork and Waterford.

16 COVER Top of the world.

East Grove house seems to attract buyers from afar.

20 22 27 28 30

agents (who earlier this month got around €500,000 for the period do-er upper Wood House on seven acres on the Rochestown Road) is feeling positive about Cremore’s prospects.

It’s a walk to Douglas village, or a walk to Cork city centre, with schools, public park, swimming pool and shops all nearby, and so could make a great base to put down family roots in.

Rooms include two side-by-side front reception rooms, kitchen with oak units, and four bedrooms, two of them doubles, plus family bathroom. Gas heating is installed, and there’s a good garage and boiler house in the mature back garden, while the front garden has privacy thanks to a high surrounding wall, with off-street parking.

VERDICT: Most who bought here in the past few years spent heavily on upgrades and extensions and they paid a whole heap more than perfectly-sited Cremore to begin with.

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES GARDENING

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

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IRISH EXAMINER �� Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:31:06Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:4

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XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

TRADING UP

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country ��� �����

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BALLINAMULT, WATERFORD €175,000 Sq. m: 225 (2,450 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband:Yes

You don’t have to spend lots of money to trade up to a sizeable family home on a good-sized site, especially if you are hankering after a quiet rural location.

A fresh to market February offering with West Waterford agent Eamonn Spratt is this five-bed home at between Dungarvan and Clonmel, at Doon, Ballinamult about a 20 minute spin from Dungarvan.

It was built as recently as 2007, and is fully finished inside, but even a first lick of paint and some colour on its rendered outside walls would really convey its completion. A first job for a buyer, perhaps. and they’ll even get to choose the colour?

It’s priced to sell, emphasises Mr Spratt, guiding it at what seems like very good value for a five-bed at €175,000, and he says it’s on an elevated acre and that the location is scenic, with a south-west aspect and rural views including mature trees by its entrance.

Two of its five laminate-floored bedrooms are en suite, there are two nice-sized (15’ by 13’) reception rooms and an attractive 22’ by 12’ kitchen with island and wood units, while other finish levels are good, with good wood and porcelain tiled floors etc in several other rooms.

VERDICT: Plenty of space here with five beds inside and an acre of ground for a Munster family on the move.

LISSARDA, CORK €340,000 Sq. m: 252 (2,700 sq ft) BER rating: B1

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

BISHOPSTOWN, CORK €335,000 Sq m: 144 (1,550sq ft) BER rating: Pending

VERDICT: Close to Lissarda and Kilmurry village, this Duniskey property is a 20 minute commute to Cork city and is close to Macroom town.

VERDICT: Leafy and mature, and with good schools on the doorstep, Glengorm is a classic trader-upper with room to improve and extend.

To mix a banking metaphor, there’ll be interest in the sale of this former principal’s property.

New to market, and set to sell by tender, is the former residence of the principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College at Darrara, a mile from Clonakilty town on the main Timoleague Road. The Clon college (one of seven of its ilk nationwide) currently is performing a vital function in training and certifying a new generation of farmers, and has deep roots in this farming hinterland.

However, farm training body Teagasc has decided the house which it owns near Darrara, and which has served for years as the college principal’s own home, is surplus to requirements.

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Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

One of the more discreet estates off the Model Farm Road in Cork, the Ridgeway is tucked into a crescent between Laburnum Park and Bishopstown Avenue — and therein lies its attraction.

This week sees a new for-sale board up in the estate, for Glengorm, a large, four-bed semi that will need a substantial overhaul, says Jarleth Boyd, of Timothy Sullivan and Associates.

The house has a perfect south/southwest aspect, he says, and a large corner site that would allow substantial development. The Ridgeway is a twominute walk to the grounds of CUH. The layout includes a sitting room, dining room, a kitchen-breakfast room, utility and guest WC with access to the attached garage.

The bedroom floor has two good double rooms, a small double and a single with main bathroom. Outside, the gardens are in lawn, and here again there’s plenty of scope to give the house personality.

Glengorm is in need of TLC and perhaps an extension, but with aspect and location boxes ticked, the house would reward the investment for familyhome buyers.

Sq m: 154 (1,650 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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GRANGE, CORK €219,000

The question to ask with a one-off rural house like this is: “how much would it cost to build now?”

Even in a flattened market, taking site value, planning and design, contractor’s costs, finish and fittings into account, the asking price is now often lower than the cost of building, even now. And that’s without factoring time and the headaches a self-build involves.

So with this in mind, families looking for a rural retreat with plenty of room may find that this house at Duniskey, Lissarda fits the bill.

On the market with Killian Lynch of KL Auctioneers, Macroom, it’s a fully finished house and it comes with a great kitchen and dining/living room with solid fuel stove, and includes a sun room and detached garage as part of its layout. It comes with finished grounds.

The house is part of a small cluster of one-off houses located about a quarter mile from the Cork-Macroom road.

Rooms include a generous sitting room, kitchen/dining room, sun room with vaulted ceilings, utility and bedroom with adjoining jacuzzi bathroom on the ground floor.

Upstairs there are four more bedrooms, all of which are en suite.

CLONAKILTY, CORK c€250,000 (Tender)

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Sq. m: 79 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms:3 Broadband:Yes

A modern build, to a high standard, and a detached status set 1A Grange Road up as a comfortable buy.

Built just about five years ago, and with masonry block construction, this three-bed home is at the start of the Grange Road above Douglas, Cork.

It is new to market with agents FML Properties in the city centre, who seek €219,000 for the smart and well-built home, within a five minute walk of Douglas’s amenities.

There’s off-street parking for a few cars on its cobbled drive, a 17’ by 12’ living room with wood floor and fireplace, as well as patio/garden access via French doors. Next to it is an open plan kitchen/dining room, long at 24’ by almost 10’, with a tiled floor, while the ground level also has a guest WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms plus a main bathroom with bath/shower.

To the rear is a walled in garden, which isn’t overlooked, add FML, and heating is gas-fire and zoned. There’s great amenities and a huge shopping choice on either side of this superconvenient Grange Road home, with Aldi and SuperValu across the road, and Dunnes and Tesco in Douglas.

VERDICT: There aren’t too many detached homes within a such a short walk of Douglas village, while the south city ring road is a mile away in the other direction.

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes It’s a good property offer: a four-bed 1,650 sq ft bungalow, on a private landscaped site of 1.25 acres, a mile or so east of the town by what’s known as the main farm entrance, less than an hour from Cork city and airport. Added to the mix is a detached 350 sq ft garage.

Selling agent is Charles P McCarthy in Skibbereen, who says the single storey house is in good overall condition with pleasant views.

Rooms include a 21’ by 21 living room, a large kitchen/dining room, front and back halls, bathroom, shower room and four bedrooms.

VERDICT: What? No mud room?

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CASH BUYERS URGENTLY LOOKING FOR SEMI-DETACHED HOMES IN BALLINCOLLIG, BISHOPSTOWN, DOUGLAS & GLANMIRE

For a free valuation Call Sherry FitzGerald ��� ��� ���� �� ����� ������������

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��������������������������������� IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY

TRADING UP

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country ��� �����

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BALLINAMULT, WATERFORD €175,000 Sq. m: 225 (2,450 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband:Yes

You don’t have to spend lots of money to trade up to a sizeable family home on a good-sized site, especially if you are hankering after a quiet rural location.

A fresh to market February offering with West Waterford agent Eamonn Spratt is this five-bed home at between Dungarvan and Clonmel, at Doon, Ballinamult about a 20 minute spin from Dungarvan.

It was built as recently as 2007, and is fully finished inside, but even a first lick of paint and some colour on its rendered outside walls would really convey its completion. A first job for a buyer, perhaps. and they’ll even get to choose the colour?

It’s priced to sell, emphasises Mr Spratt, guiding it at what seems like very good value for a five-bed at €175,000, and he says it’s on an elevated acre and that the location is scenic, with a south-west aspect and rural views including mature trees by its entrance.

Two of its five laminate-floored bedrooms are en suite, there are two nice-sized (15’ by 13’) reception rooms and an attractive 22’ by 12’ kitchen with island and wood units, while other finish levels are good, with good wood and porcelain tiled floors etc in several other rooms.

VERDICT: Plenty of space here with five beds inside and an acre of ground for a Munster family on the move.

LISSARDA, CORK €340,000 Sq. m: 252 (2,700 sq ft) BER rating: B1

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

BISHOPSTOWN, CORK €335,000 Sq m: 144 (1,550sq ft) BER rating: Pending

VERDICT: Close to Lissarda and Kilmurry village, this Duniskey property is a 20 minute commute to Cork city and is close to Macroom town.

VERDICT: Leafy and mature, and with good schools on the doorstep, Glengorm is a classic trader-upper with room to improve and extend.

To mix a banking metaphor, there’ll be interest in the sale of this former principal’s property.

New to market, and set to sell by tender, is the former residence of the principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College at Darrara, a mile from Clonakilty town on the main Timoleague Road. The Clon college (one of seven of its ilk nationwide) currently is performing a vital function in training and certifying a new generation of farmers, and has deep roots in this farming hinterland.

However, farm training body Teagasc has decided the house which it owns near Darrara, and which has served for years as the college principal’s own home, is surplus to requirements.

4

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

One of the more discreet estates off the Model Farm Road in Cork, the Ridgeway is tucked into a crescent between Laburnum Park and Bishopstown Avenue — and therein lies its attraction.

This week sees a new for-sale board up in the estate, for Glengorm, a large, four-bed semi that will need a substantial overhaul, says Jarleth Boyd, of Timothy Sullivan and Associates.

The house has a perfect south/southwest aspect, he says, and a large corner site that would allow substantial development. The Ridgeway is a twominute walk to the grounds of CUH. The layout includes a sitting room, dining room, a kitchen-breakfast room, utility and guest WC with access to the attached garage.

The bedroom floor has two good double rooms, a small double and a single with main bathroom. Outside, the gardens are in lawn, and here again there’s plenty of scope to give the house personality.

Glengorm is in need of TLC and perhaps an extension, but with aspect and location boxes ticked, the house would reward the investment for familyhome buyers.

Sq m: 154 (1,650 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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GRANGE, CORK €219,000

The question to ask with a one-off rural house like this is: “how much would it cost to build now?”

Even in a flattened market, taking site value, planning and design, contractor’s costs, finish and fittings into account, the asking price is now often lower than the cost of building, even now. And that’s without factoring time and the headaches a self-build involves.

So with this in mind, families looking for a rural retreat with plenty of room may find that this house at Duniskey, Lissarda fits the bill.

On the market with Killian Lynch of KL Auctioneers, Macroom, it’s a fully finished house and it comes with a great kitchen and dining/living room with solid fuel stove, and includes a sun room and detached garage as part of its layout. It comes with finished grounds.

The house is part of a small cluster of one-off houses located about a quarter mile from the Cork-Macroom road.

Rooms include a generous sitting room, kitchen/dining room, sun room with vaulted ceilings, utility and bedroom with adjoining jacuzzi bathroom on the ground floor.

Upstairs there are four more bedrooms, all of which are en suite.

CLONAKILTY, CORK c€250,000 (Tender)

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Sq. m: 79 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms:3 Broadband:Yes

A modern build, to a high standard, and a detached status set 1A Grange Road up as a comfortable buy.

Built just about five years ago, and with masonry block construction, this three-bed home is at the start of the Grange Road above Douglas, Cork.

It is new to market with agents FML Properties in the city centre, who seek €219,000 for the smart and well-built home, within a five minute walk of Douglas’s amenities.

There’s off-street parking for a few cars on its cobbled drive, a 17’ by 12’ living room with wood floor and fireplace, as well as patio/garden access via French doors. Next to it is an open plan kitchen/dining room, long at 24’ by almost 10’, with a tiled floor, while the ground level also has a guest WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms plus a main bathroom with bath/shower.

To the rear is a walled in garden, which isn’t overlooked, add FML, and heating is gas-fire and zoned. There’s great amenities and a huge shopping choice on either side of this superconvenient Grange Road home, with Aldi and SuperValu across the road, and Dunnes and Tesco in Douglas.

VERDICT: There aren’t too many detached homes within a such a short walk of Douglas village, while the south city ring road is a mile away in the other direction.

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes It’s a good property offer: a four-bed 1,650 sq ft bungalow, on a private landscaped site of 1.25 acres, a mile or so east of the town by what’s known as the main farm entrance, less than an hour from Cork city and airport. Added to the mix is a detached 350 sq ft garage.

Selling agent is Charles P McCarthy in Skibbereen, who says the single storey house is in good overall condition with pleasant views.

Rooms include a 21’ by 21 living room, a large kitchen/dining room, front and back halls, bathroom, shower room and four bedrooms.

VERDICT: What? No mud room?

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CASH BUYERS URGENTLY LOOKING FOR SEMI-DETACHED HOMES IN BALLINCOLLIG, BISHOPSTOWN, DOUGLAS & GLANMIRE

For a free valuation Call Sherry FitzGerald ��� ��� ���� �� ����� ������������

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follow us on ����������������������

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��������������������������������� IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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STARTER HOMES

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PROPERTY

Immaculate duplex a good buy

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best feature:

Just minutes from Douglas Village, No 35 doesn’t disappoint, Rose Martin reports

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

DUNMANWAY, CO CORK €130,000 Sq m: 100 (1,099 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Just on the outskirts of Dunmanway in West Cork is this four-bed bungalow on a good, rural site, with a €130,000 asking price via agent Henry O’Leary.

Woodview is all ground floor accommodation right now, a well-kept site with detached garage, and shed.

VERDICT: Convenient to the town, but private, about an hour from Cork city.

MAYFIELD, CORK €130,000 Sq m: 78 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

Near lots of services and amenities in Cork city’s Mayfield is 2, St. Joseph’s Park, a midterraced three bed with front and back gardens.

A good starter package at the price, it probably needs doing up a bit now, but this can be done in time, suggests auctioneer Terry Hayes of REMAX. It fits in living room, kitchen, utility, guest WC, and three overhead beds plus main bathroom.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €215,000 125 sq m (1,340 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

Plenty of extras to tempt buyers

This very attractive three-bed house, in good condition, in a good area could tick a lot of boxes for first time buyers or even trader-uppers. Rose Martin reports WHEN it comes to that first buy, it helps to have lots of extras tagged onto a sale.

And that’s why this house ticks a lot of boxes for first timers — or even trader-uppers.

An extended three bed, No 1 The Walk, is situated in the Heron’s Wood estate in Carrigaline, which has a vibrant and active residents’ association.

It’s a short commute to the city and the big pharma companies in the area, while the centre of Carrigaline is within buggy pushing distance.

On the market with Kevin Barry of Barry Auctioneers, No 1 offers very good space and a good, contemporary interior, is not overlooked and has a

corner site near the Fernhill road side of the estate.

The ground floor comes with an open plan structure where the living room runs into the dining room and then into the kitchen, and there’s a separate utility and guest bathroom. The extended area to the side is used as a playroom but could be a study, library or games room/gym.

Upstairs the master bedroom is en-suite and there’s a double and single room included, along with a main bathroom.

VERDICT: A very attractive house, in good condition, in a good area.

No 2 is a prime example of the way houses should be built in future

This house near Bandon’s town centre is ideal for first time buyers, writes Rose Martin

VERDICT: The gardens are a bonus.

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

On a corner site, with a good back garden, No 28 Primrose Hill is a three-bed property in an estate of similar houses close to Tower village.

In fact, local amenities are on the doorstep and the property is a quick commute to Cork city. Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh are the selling agents.

VERDICT: With three bedrooms, this dormer house has an open plan layout on the ground floor and is ideal as a starter home or rental property.

6

T

HERE’S a hefty amount of space in this immaculate duplex at 35 Rowan Hill, Mount Oval Village in Cork’s Rochestown, and that’s just one of the reasons why is might make a good buy.

There are a few more reasons: like the fact that it’s end of terrace, has a secure, west-facing garden, is part of a planned, urban development with

amenities on site and is minutes from bustling Douglas village.

The ground floor duplex (there’s access from a height behind on this sloping site to the top/second floor apartment) is very elegant too, and is ideal for a couple with dogs, as the rear garden is fully walled-in and leads directly onto a large green space, so perfect for walkies. The upside of this is

KENMARE, CO. KERRY GLANEROUGHT

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Bandon, Co Cork €189,000 88 sq m (950 sq ft) 3/4 A3 Yes

So: cheap to run, easy to maintain and less than minute from the town’s centre — No 2 is a runner for first time buyers.

It’s on the market at €189,000 through Paddy Murray Auctioneers, a price which reflects the long term savings that can be made with high-grade builds.

Rooms include a sitting room, living room, fresh vanilla kitchen/diner, utility, guest bathroom and study on the ground floor.

Overhead, there’s a master suite and two double bedrooms with bathroom.

A development within walking distance of Kenmare town

VERDICT: Built the way all houses should be built — who cares about privatisation, energy bills will be a doddle.

3 bedroom Semi Detached Houses .............€90,000 Detached & Town Houses also available

VERDICT: The interior is fresh, clean and contemporary, and for those looking for a large, streamlined home in Douglas it’s worth a look through Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald.

For Sale by Public Auction (unless previously sold)

• 3 Bedroom Semi - detached house • Centrally located minutes from Douglas • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

84 Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney Co. Cork 4 bed detached house

AUCTIONEER • VALUER • ESTATE AGENT • PROPERTY CONSULTANT

5 Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co.Kerry tel: +353 64 6633066, fax: +353 64 6633958 email: tspillane@eircom.net www.tomspillane.ie

dining/kitchen area facing west with Juliet balcony and a second double bedroom with main bathroom across the landing.

“The Property Auction Experts”

Westin View, Carrigaline, Cork

PRICES FROM

Rebuilt on the site of two older dwellings, this right hand semi-d in Bandon’s town centre is the first BER ‘A-rated’ home that agent Damien Murray has come across — and he’s a certified BER assessor too.

No 2 Knockbrogan Park, Bandon, is a three to four bed house, (the ground floor study converts) and it only just over a year old and built to a high spec.

As well as high insulation and airtightness values, it has rainwater recycling, solar panels and wood burning stoves is both living rooms.

And there’s gas fired heating, but with a house as snug as this, it’s unlikely to be used much throughout the year.

that the house isn’t overlooked, either.

Warm and well styled, No 35 has an unpredictable layout because of the mix of ground and first floor living space: it’s a rather grown up house.

At the entrance level there’s the smaller of two good living rooms, a single bedroom and master suite with separate WC. Upstairs, there’s a generous living/

“On owners instructions” Tuesday 27th March 2012 @ 2.30pm. The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

Agent on Site Saturday, 10th March 12 - 3pm

TOWER, CORK €145,000 Sq m: 90 (980 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Mount Oval Village, Cork €290,000 128 sq m (1,387 sq ft) 4 Pending Yes Layout

88 South Mall, Cork.

Tel: 021-4277717 Fax 021-4274820 email: info@cdacork.com www.cdacork.com

Heathfield, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork

13 Castle Avenue, Carrigtwohill, Cork

• Spacious 3 Bed Detached House • C1.25 acres • Mature & sheltered gardens front and rear

PRICED TO SELL

Selection of other Properties for Auction Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork Traditional cottage on C. 0.5 acre

• 4 Bed Two Storey Semi Detached House • Newly refurbished • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal Stunning 2 Bed Apartment in 5 star luxury complex

For further information and viewings contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall,Cork - Tel: 021 4278455 Email: info@denisbarrett.com

Web: www.denisbarrett.com IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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STARTER HOMES

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PROPERTY

Immaculate duplex a good buy

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best feature:

Just minutes from Douglas Village, No 35 doesn’t disappoint, Rose Martin reports

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

DUNMANWAY, CO CORK €130,000 Sq m: 100 (1,099 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Just on the outskirts of Dunmanway in West Cork is this four-bed bungalow on a good, rural site, with a €130,000 asking price via agent Henry O’Leary.

Woodview is all ground floor accommodation right now, a well-kept site with detached garage, and shed.

VERDICT: Convenient to the town, but private, about an hour from Cork city.

MAYFIELD, CORK €130,000 Sq m: 78 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

Near lots of services and amenities in Cork city’s Mayfield is 2, St. Joseph’s Park, a midterraced three bed with front and back gardens.

A good starter package at the price, it probably needs doing up a bit now, but this can be done in time, suggests auctioneer Terry Hayes of REMAX. It fits in living room, kitchen, utility, guest WC, and three overhead beds plus main bathroom.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €215,000 125 sq m (1,340 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

Plenty of extras to tempt buyers

This very attractive three-bed house, in good condition, in a good area could tick a lot of boxes for first time buyers or even trader-uppers. Rose Martin reports WHEN it comes to that first buy, it helps to have lots of extras tagged onto a sale.

And that’s why this house ticks a lot of boxes for first timers — or even trader-uppers.

An extended three bed, No 1 The Walk, is situated in the Heron’s Wood estate in Carrigaline, which has a vibrant and active residents’ association.

It’s a short commute to the city and the big pharma companies in the area, while the centre of Carrigaline is within buggy pushing distance.

On the market with Kevin Barry of Barry Auctioneers, No 1 offers very good space and a good, contemporary interior, is not overlooked and has a

corner site near the Fernhill road side of the estate.

The ground floor comes with an open plan structure where the living room runs into the dining room and then into the kitchen, and there’s a separate utility and guest bathroom. The extended area to the side is used as a playroom but could be a study, library or games room/gym.

Upstairs the master bedroom is en-suite and there’s a double and single room included, along with a main bathroom.

VERDICT: A very attractive house, in good condition, in a good area.

No 2 is a prime example of the way houses should be built in future

This house near Bandon’s town centre is ideal for first time buyers, writes Rose Martin

VERDICT: The gardens are a bonus.

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

On a corner site, with a good back garden, No 28 Primrose Hill is a three-bed property in an estate of similar houses close to Tower village.

In fact, local amenities are on the doorstep and the property is a quick commute to Cork city. Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh are the selling agents.

VERDICT: With three bedrooms, this dormer house has an open plan layout on the ground floor and is ideal as a starter home or rental property.

6

T

HERE’S a hefty amount of space in this immaculate duplex at 35 Rowan Hill, Mount Oval Village in Cork’s Rochestown, and that’s just one of the reasons why is might make a good buy.

There are a few more reasons: like the fact that it’s end of terrace, has a secure, west-facing garden, is part of a planned, urban development with

amenities on site and is minutes from bustling Douglas village.

The ground floor duplex (there’s access from a height behind on this sloping site to the top/second floor apartment) is very elegant too, and is ideal for a couple with dogs, as the rear garden is fully walled-in and leads directly onto a large green space, so perfect for walkies. The upside of this is

KENMARE, CO. KERRY GLANEROUGHT

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Bandon, Co Cork €189,000 88 sq m (950 sq ft) 3/4 A3 Yes

So: cheap to run, easy to maintain and less than minute from the town’s centre — No 2 is a runner for first time buyers.

It’s on the market at €189,000 through Paddy Murray Auctioneers, a price which reflects the long term savings that can be made with high-grade builds.

Rooms include a sitting room, living room, fresh vanilla kitchen/diner, utility, guest bathroom and study on the ground floor.

Overhead, there’s a master suite and two double bedrooms with bathroom.

A development within walking distance of Kenmare town

VERDICT: Built the way all houses should be built — who cares about privatisation, energy bills will be a doddle.

3 bedroom Semi Detached Houses .............€90,000 Detached & Town Houses also available

VERDICT: The interior is fresh, clean and contemporary, and for those looking for a large, streamlined home in Douglas it’s worth a look through Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald.

For Sale by Public Auction (unless previously sold)

• 3 Bedroom Semi - detached house • Centrally located minutes from Douglas • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

84 Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney Co. Cork 4 bed detached house

AUCTIONEER • VALUER • ESTATE AGENT • PROPERTY CONSULTANT

5 Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co.Kerry tel: +353 64 6633066, fax: +353 64 6633958 email: tspillane@eircom.net www.tomspillane.ie

dining/kitchen area facing west with Juliet balcony and a second double bedroom with main bathroom across the landing.

“The Property Auction Experts”

Westin View, Carrigaline, Cork

PRICES FROM

Rebuilt on the site of two older dwellings, this right hand semi-d in Bandon’s town centre is the first BER ‘A-rated’ home that agent Damien Murray has come across — and he’s a certified BER assessor too.

No 2 Knockbrogan Park, Bandon, is a three to four bed house, (the ground floor study converts) and it only just over a year old and built to a high spec.

As well as high insulation and airtightness values, it has rainwater recycling, solar panels and wood burning stoves is both living rooms.

And there’s gas fired heating, but with a house as snug as this, it’s unlikely to be used much throughout the year.

that the house isn’t overlooked, either.

Warm and well styled, No 35 has an unpredictable layout because of the mix of ground and first floor living space: it’s a rather grown up house.

At the entrance level there’s the smaller of two good living rooms, a single bedroom and master suite with separate WC. Upstairs, there’s a generous living/

“On owners instructions” Tuesday 27th March 2012 @ 2.30pm. The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

Agent on Site Saturday, 10th March 12 - 3pm

TOWER, CORK €145,000 Sq m: 90 (980 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Mount Oval Village, Cork €290,000 128 sq m (1,387 sq ft) 4 Pending Yes Layout

88 South Mall, Cork.

Tel: 021-4277717 Fax 021-4274820 email: info@cdacork.com www.cdacork.com

Heathfield, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork

13 Castle Avenue, Carrigtwohill, Cork

• Spacious 3 Bed Detached House • C1.25 acres • Mature & sheltered gardens front and rear

PRICED TO SELL

Selection of other Properties for Auction Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork Traditional cottage on C. 0.5 acre

• 4 Bed Two Storey Semi Detached House • Newly refurbished • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal Stunning 2 Bed Apartment in 5 star luxury complex

For further information and viewings contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall,Cork - Tel: 021 4278455 Email: info@denisbarrett.com

Web: www.denisbarrett.com IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

7

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:42Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:8

Zone:XP1

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MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Mortgage Interest Relief extended for home-buyers until end of 2012 MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF The rate of mortgage interest relief available to first time buyers is 25% in year 1 & 2. 22.5% in years 3, 4 & 5 & 20% for years 6 & 7. This is capped at a maximum interest of €10,000 for a single applicant or €20,000 for a joint applicant. This is provided the mortgage is drawn before the end of this year.

For example: A couple taking out a mortgage of €300,000 on a variable rate of 3.95%.

Interest in year 1 = €11,850. (€300,000 multiplied by 3.95% = €11,850)

I

A considerable amount of cash is saved if you take out and draw down a mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013

T'S a strange enough sign of the times but the word “austerity” seems to trip off the tongue far more regularly than expressions like “tax breaks” or even “cash back”. But the new government did pull a welcomed rabbit out of the hat on Budget Day last December when they surprisingly extended the MIR for home-buyers for another year.

Mortgage Interest Relief was meant to be ended as an option to all property buyers at the end of last year but the current administration appear to have recognised the importance of MIR to the property market.

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be

on it.” So says Peter Magee, Director Head of Mortgages at nationwide franchise group Sherry Fitzgerald.

Where the message is getting through, it is having some impact, as Magee explains: “I had a client who rang me to say that they weren’t thinking about buying for

€11,850 multiplied by 25% = €2962.50. (maximum allowance for year 1)

A special rate of 30% for the tax years 2012 to 2017 is being introduced for first-time buyers who bought their sole or main residence for the first time in the years 2004 to 2008 or paid their first mortgage interest payment in this period.

Source: Hawkesworth & Co. Financial Services.

8

you’ll be getting €168.75 back every month in interest relief, it’s a lot of money.”

It’s certainly not to be sniffed at and, as this is

the extension of a scheme that was destined to be closed at the end of 2011, the likelihood of it being further extended at the end of 2012 is unlikely in

the extreme. The reality is that it isn’t always possible for people to do that. The inability and/or unwillingness of banks to lend is still and issue, but

LISHEEN FIELDS, OVENS, CO. CORK

Email:omwrecption@eircom.net

Mortgages taken out after the 31st of December 2012 will not qualify for mortgage interest relief.

Non-first-time buyers in 2012 will get mortgage interest relief at a rate of 15% from 2012 until 2017

relief because it’s good money to have.

“If you’re first-time buyers doing a mortgage of €250,000 and you’re taking a rate of 3.24%,

it’s an improving situation: Statistical data recently released from the Irish Banking Federation has shown that the number of

mortgages issued in the last quarter of 2011 is 3,856, valued at €639 million. This figure is down 31% on the same period of 2010.

32 THE MEADOWS, CLASSES LAKE, OVENS, CO. CORK

021-4873466

€2962.50 divided by 12 = €246.87 (amount due to the applicants in mortgage interest relief each month)

Mortgage interest relief will be completely abolished at the end of 2017.

Continued on page 10.

2012 may prove to be a good year to buy.

12 CITI WEST MEWS, BALLINCOLLIG, CO. CORK

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid.

entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid. This is an increase from the rate proposed by the previous government (15%) making first-time homeowners even better off in a year when prices are keener still.

The rate of interest relief decreases every two to three years until it is finally phased out completely by the end of 2017. Thus, a first-time

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• 3 Bedroom house • Set in a cul-de-sac setting • Close to all amenities It can work out cheaper to buy now rather than rent.

buyer will get 25% back in the first two years.

This figure reduces to 22.5% in years three, four and five and down to 20% in years six and seven.

For non-first-time buyers, the rate is a flat 15%.

On top of that, the government made another change to the system in order to try to lessen the burden on those were unfortunate to have become first-time

buyers during the height of the property boom by extending a certain amount of MIR to those who had bought between 2004 and 2008. This figure is 30% of interest; one which is surely welcome even in the most extreme of cases.

All of this is good news.

It translates into a considerable amount of cash saved if you take out and draw down a

mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013, when you get no Mortgage Interest Relief at all. Curiously, it’s a message that doesn’t seem to have been communicated as well as it might to the potential property owners in the Irish public.

“The problem, I think, for the consumer out there is that the information is quite poor

the next two years, but when they saw that the MIR wasn’t going to finish up until the end of this year, they decided they were going to buy now because firstly, it was going to work out cheaper for them to buy now rather than rent and secondly, they thought that if they’re going to buy, then they might as well buy now and get the benefit of the interest

Price €160,000

28 PRIMROSE HILL, TOWER, BLARNEY, CO. CORK

RELEASING 5 M ORE

CURRENTLY UN DER CONSTRUCTION

• Luxury new 4 bedroom detached homes • High specification finish inc. Solar Panels etc.

• Adjacent to By-Pass, Crèche, Shop, Restaurants, Pharmacy, etc • New completed homes before Mortgage Tax Relief Expires.

Price: €295,000

Price: €145,000

BALLINCOLLIG 021-4873466 MACROOM 026-41244

T

• Superior 5 bedroom detached residence c. 2,500 sq. ft, situated in a walled in site • Incorporating very spacious living accommodation, 3 reception rooms, large kitchen, master bedroom en-suite. • Sought after location.

Price on Application.

5 GALVINS TERRACE, CROOKSTOWN, CO. CORK

• Charming 3 bedroom detached house on corner site, offer spacious enclosed rear garden.

Excellent condition throughout with shower rooms on ground and first floor. • Walking distance to Tower Village, 5 minutes from Blarney.

NEW TO MARKE

• Splendid 3 bedroom end of terrace house • Set on a very large plot of ground • Superbly maintained throughout • Village setting, close to all amenities • Cork City 20 mins

Price: €99,000

7 MANOR LANE, GRANGE MANOR, OVENS, CO. CORK

• Magnificent 3 bedroom 3 storey property with manicured rear garden.

• Overlooking a green area in a quiet cul-de-sac.

• Master bedroom en-suite, guest w,c, gas heating • Viewing a must to appreciate.

Excellent Value

Email:omwreception@eircom.net IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

9

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:42Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:8

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Mortgage Interest Relief extended for home-buyers until end of 2012 MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF The rate of mortgage interest relief available to first time buyers is 25% in year 1 & 2. 22.5% in years 3, 4 & 5 & 20% for years 6 & 7. This is capped at a maximum interest of €10,000 for a single applicant or €20,000 for a joint applicant. This is provided the mortgage is drawn before the end of this year.

For example: A couple taking out a mortgage of €300,000 on a variable rate of 3.95%.

Interest in year 1 = €11,850. (€300,000 multiplied by 3.95% = €11,850)

I

A considerable amount of cash is saved if you take out and draw down a mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013

T'S a strange enough sign of the times but the word “austerity” seems to trip off the tongue far more regularly than expressions like “tax breaks” or even “cash back”. But the new government did pull a welcomed rabbit out of the hat on Budget Day last December when they surprisingly extended the MIR for home-buyers for another year.

Mortgage Interest Relief was meant to be ended as an option to all property buyers at the end of last year but the current administration appear to have recognised the importance of MIR to the property market.

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be

on it.” So says Peter Magee, Director Head of Mortgages at nationwide franchise group Sherry Fitzgerald.

Where the message is getting through, it is having some impact, as Magee explains: “I had a client who rang me to say that they weren’t thinking about buying for

€11,850 multiplied by 25% = €2962.50. (maximum allowance for year 1)

A special rate of 30% for the tax years 2012 to 2017 is being introduced for first-time buyers who bought their sole or main residence for the first time in the years 2004 to 2008 or paid their first mortgage interest payment in this period.

Source: Hawkesworth & Co. Financial Services.

8

you’ll be getting €168.75 back every month in interest relief, it’s a lot of money.”

It’s certainly not to be sniffed at and, as this is

the extension of a scheme that was destined to be closed at the end of 2011, the likelihood of it being further extended at the end of 2012 is unlikely in

the extreme. The reality is that it isn’t always possible for people to do that. The inability and/or unwillingness of banks to lend is still and issue, but

LISHEEN FIELDS, OVENS, CO. CORK

Email:omwrecption@eircom.net

Mortgages taken out after the 31st of December 2012 will not qualify for mortgage interest relief.

Non-first-time buyers in 2012 will get mortgage interest relief at a rate of 15% from 2012 until 2017

relief because it’s good money to have.

“If you’re first-time buyers doing a mortgage of €250,000 and you’re taking a rate of 3.24%,

it’s an improving situation: Statistical data recently released from the Irish Banking Federation has shown that the number of

mortgages issued in the last quarter of 2011 is 3,856, valued at €639 million. This figure is down 31% on the same period of 2010.

32 THE MEADOWS, CLASSES LAKE, OVENS, CO. CORK

021-4873466

€2962.50 divided by 12 = €246.87 (amount due to the applicants in mortgage interest relief each month)

Mortgage interest relief will be completely abolished at the end of 2017.

Continued on page 10.

2012 may prove to be a good year to buy.

12 CITI WEST MEWS, BALLINCOLLIG, CO. CORK

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid.

entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid. This is an increase from the rate proposed by the previous government (15%) making first-time homeowners even better off in a year when prices are keener still.

The rate of interest relief decreases every two to three years until it is finally phased out completely by the end of 2017. Thus, a first-time

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• 3 Bedroom house • Set in a cul-de-sac setting • Close to all amenities It can work out cheaper to buy now rather than rent.

buyer will get 25% back in the first two years.

This figure reduces to 22.5% in years three, four and five and down to 20% in years six and seven.

For non-first-time buyers, the rate is a flat 15%.

On top of that, the government made another change to the system in order to try to lessen the burden on those were unfortunate to have become first-time

buyers during the height of the property boom by extending a certain amount of MIR to those who had bought between 2004 and 2008. This figure is 30% of interest; one which is surely welcome even in the most extreme of cases.

All of this is good news.

It translates into a considerable amount of cash saved if you take out and draw down a

mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013, when you get no Mortgage Interest Relief at all. Curiously, it’s a message that doesn’t seem to have been communicated as well as it might to the potential property owners in the Irish public.

“The problem, I think, for the consumer out there is that the information is quite poor

the next two years, but when they saw that the MIR wasn’t going to finish up until the end of this year, they decided they were going to buy now because firstly, it was going to work out cheaper for them to buy now rather than rent and secondly, they thought that if they’re going to buy, then they might as well buy now and get the benefit of the interest

Price €160,000

28 PRIMROSE HILL, TOWER, BLARNEY, CO. CORK

RELEASING 5 M ORE

CURRENTLY UN DER CONSTRUCTION

• Luxury new 4 bedroom detached homes • High specification finish inc. Solar Panels etc.

• Adjacent to By-Pass, Crèche, Shop, Restaurants, Pharmacy, etc • New completed homes before Mortgage Tax Relief Expires.

Price: €295,000

Price: €145,000

BALLINCOLLIG 021-4873466 MACROOM 026-41244

T

• Superior 5 bedroom detached residence c. 2,500 sq. ft, situated in a walled in site • Incorporating very spacious living accommodation, 3 reception rooms, large kitchen, master bedroom en-suite. • Sought after location.

Price on Application.

5 GALVINS TERRACE, CROOKSTOWN, CO. CORK

• Charming 3 bedroom detached house on corner site, offer spacious enclosed rear garden.

Excellent condition throughout with shower rooms on ground and first floor. • Walking distance to Tower Village, 5 minutes from Blarney.

NEW TO MARKE

• Splendid 3 bedroom end of terrace house • Set on a very large plot of ground • Superbly maintained throughout • Village setting, close to all amenities • Cork City 20 mins

Price: €99,000

7 MANOR LANE, GRANGE MANOR, OVENS, CO. CORK

• Magnificent 3 bedroom 3 storey property with manicured rear garden.

• Overlooking a green area in a quiet cul-de-sac.

• Master bedroom en-suite, guest w,c, gas heating • Viewing a must to appreciate.

Excellent Value

Email:omwreception@eircom.net IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

9

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:29Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:10

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

No more property ladder, you can now go straight to the top The best thing about the market at present is that first time buyers have the ability to buy into areas they would never have been able to buy first time around.

The first time buyer of today won't need a property Ladder, a 4 bed detached property with garage, for Example, can be secured on the Rochestown Rd in Cork for €250,000.

To rent that particular property will cost €1,000 per month and rising, with no security of tenure or ability to make it your own. To buy this same property, as a couple borrowing 92% (still available) over 35 years will cost you gross €916.25 per month 3.24% Variable Rate 3.29% APR. Subtract the Tax Relief at Source available to a couple and the repayment drops to €757.80 per month.

TRS will not be here next year for first time buyers, a typical property purchase from deposit to receiving keys takes 3 months average, thus, anyone wanting to avail of this would want to start thinking of getting the appropriate documentation together in order to start the application process of getting a mortgage.

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity

Continued from page 9.

T

HE trend, however, is arguably of much more significance and it is encouraging: the figure is up 7% on the previous quarter and it is the third quarter in succession that there has been an increase.

This has not happened since the boom-time year of 2005.

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity that support the trend reported by the IBF: “One thing that we’ve noticed is that the amount of people viewing houses has gone up,” says Joan Henry, Director at

For Further Details: DNG Creedon, Village Green House, Douglas www.dngcreedon.ie www.douglasmortgage.ie Tel 021-4897300

Relief or the fact that banks are lending a bit more or even a combination of both those factors is possible.

“It’s always a positive thing when such a scheme is extended. It was noticeable from our point of view that lending increased in the fourth quarter. The MIR isn’t always the first thing that people mention as being a deciding factor but it is important that it’s there and that it’s being extended.

Buyers are certainly taking advantage of the market at the moment and the first-time buyer is very active right now”

Tax planning a necessity for both personal and corporate taxpayers The recent introduction of new property taxes and levies, combined with increased Capital Tax rates of 30%, has increased the level of tax compliance and the necessity for tax planning for all taxpayers, both personal and corporate.

The reductions in inheritance tax exemption thresholds combined with the 30% Inheritance Tax rate, will trigger substantial tax liabilities . The reduced 2% stamp duty on property transfers together with the potential relief from Capital Gains Tax, on properties acquired and held for two years, should stimulate further activity in the property market from both a commercial perspective and also a tax planning perspective.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs listed below are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs. ● Business and agricultural relief for Inheritance Tax purposes. ● Retirement relief for Capital Gains tax purposes.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs

● Use of corporate structures for professionals, including the medical profession, to reduce tax rates from 55% to 12.5%. ● Effective use of corporate structures and trusts to transfer assets and businesses. ● Use of corporate structures for tax efficient pension funding. ● Tax effective investment structures and products to maximise the after tax return for

surplus funds and saving. ● Tax strategies and exit mechanisms for business disposals and retirement. ● The new Capital Gains Tax exemption for properties purchased and held for at least 7 years should trigger property investment opportunities. ● The recent reduction in Stamp Duty rates for transfer of commercial properties to 2% will make property transfers more financially viable.

Andrew Guerin Associates provides professional tax advice to ensure that ones taxation and financial affairs are structured to fully utilize all available tax reliefs, in order to minimize the tax costs and preserve asset values on businesses transferred to the next generation.

For a free consultation contact Andrew Guerin, CPA AITI at Andrew Guerin Associates E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie Web: www.aguerin.ie Phone: 00 353-21-4840721

• Free Independent Advice • Best Rates for First Time Buyers, Re-mortagage and Buy to let

SERVICES PROVIDED: • Advice on Property tax compliance • Structuring property acquisitions • Tax efficient property disposal strategies • Property transfers including Inheritance Tax and Succession Planning • Debt restructuring and negotiation with Financial Institutions • Negotiations and settlements with Revenue Commissioners

• Group Restructuring • Evaluation of Redundancy program.

• Advice on Business transfers including Inheritance Tax & Capital Gains Tax • Benefits of Company Incorporation • Inheritance Tax planning • Appraisal of Investments

Contact Andrew Guerin – FCPA, AITI for a Free Consultation T +353 (0)21 4840721 / F +353 (0)21 4840726 E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie / www.aguerin.ie A 19 White Street, Georges Quay, Cork, Ireland Authorised Investment Intermediaries 10

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• Unparalleled support, guidance

international property group Savills. “There’s been an increase of almost 25% in January and February alone. I would class that as being a leading indicator.”

“We’re 25% up on viewings compared to the same time last year,” says Sheila O’Flynn of Sherry Fitzgerald in Cork.

Whether or not the increase in activity is a factor of the extension of the Mortgage Interest

Another issue that is playing on the minds of those considering buying a house this year is the realisation of the economic fact that the lower a market has dropped, the safer and more attractive an investment option it becomes. Or, as Joan Henry puts it: “Anyone buying in the market now is not going to be in negative equity; that’s certainly a positive.”

Call Douglas Mortgage Centre on 021 4897300 (available for appointment) or log onto douglasmortgage.ie

Michael Creedon QFA

Michael Creedon (t/a Douglas Mortgage Centre and douglasmortgage.ie) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

11

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:29Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:10

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

No more property ladder, you can now go straight to the top The best thing about the market at present is that first time buyers have the ability to buy into areas they would never have been able to buy first time around.

The first time buyer of today won't need a property Ladder, a 4 bed detached property with garage, for Example, can be secured on the Rochestown Rd in Cork for €250,000.

To rent that particular property will cost €1,000 per month and rising, with no security of tenure or ability to make it your own. To buy this same property, as a couple borrowing 92% (still available) over 35 years will cost you gross €916.25 per month 3.24% Variable Rate 3.29% APR. Subtract the Tax Relief at Source available to a couple and the repayment drops to €757.80 per month.

TRS will not be here next year for first time buyers, a typical property purchase from deposit to receiving keys takes 3 months average, thus, anyone wanting to avail of this would want to start thinking of getting the appropriate documentation together in order to start the application process of getting a mortgage.

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity

Continued from page 9.

T

HE trend, however, is arguably of much more significance and it is encouraging: the figure is up 7% on the previous quarter and it is the third quarter in succession that there has been an increase.

This has not happened since the boom-time year of 2005.

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity that support the trend reported by the IBF: “One thing that we’ve noticed is that the amount of people viewing houses has gone up,” says Joan Henry, Director at

For Further Details: DNG Creedon, Village Green House, Douglas www.dngcreedon.ie www.douglasmortgage.ie Tel 021-4897300

Relief or the fact that banks are lending a bit more or even a combination of both those factors is possible.

“It’s always a positive thing when such a scheme is extended. It was noticeable from our point of view that lending increased in the fourth quarter. The MIR isn’t always the first thing that people mention as being a deciding factor but it is important that it’s there and that it’s being extended.

Buyers are certainly taking advantage of the market at the moment and the first-time buyer is very active right now”

Tax planning a necessity for both personal and corporate taxpayers The recent introduction of new property taxes and levies, combined with increased Capital Tax rates of 30%, has increased the level of tax compliance and the necessity for tax planning for all taxpayers, both personal and corporate.

The reductions in inheritance tax exemption thresholds combined with the 30% Inheritance Tax rate, will trigger substantial tax liabilities . The reduced 2% stamp duty on property transfers together with the potential relief from Capital Gains Tax, on properties acquired and held for two years, should stimulate further activity in the property market from both a commercial perspective and also a tax planning perspective.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs listed below are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs. ● Business and agricultural relief for Inheritance Tax purposes. ● Retirement relief for Capital Gains tax purposes.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs

● Use of corporate structures for professionals, including the medical profession, to reduce tax rates from 55% to 12.5%. ● Effective use of corporate structures and trusts to transfer assets and businesses. ● Use of corporate structures for tax efficient pension funding. ● Tax effective investment structures and products to maximise the after tax return for

surplus funds and saving. ● Tax strategies and exit mechanisms for business disposals and retirement. ● The new Capital Gains Tax exemption for properties purchased and held for at least 7 years should trigger property investment opportunities. ● The recent reduction in Stamp Duty rates for transfer of commercial properties to 2% will make property transfers more financially viable.

Andrew Guerin Associates provides professional tax advice to ensure that ones taxation and financial affairs are structured to fully utilize all available tax reliefs, in order to minimize the tax costs and preserve asset values on businesses transferred to the next generation.

For a free consultation contact Andrew Guerin, CPA AITI at Andrew Guerin Associates E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie Web: www.aguerin.ie Phone: 00 353-21-4840721

• Free Independent Advice • Best Rates for First Time Buyers, Re-mortagage and Buy to let

SERVICES PROVIDED: • Advice on Property tax compliance • Structuring property acquisitions • Tax efficient property disposal strategies • Property transfers including Inheritance Tax and Succession Planning • Debt restructuring and negotiation with Financial Institutions • Negotiations and settlements with Revenue Commissioners

• Group Restructuring • Evaluation of Redundancy program.

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Contact Andrew Guerin – FCPA, AITI for a Free Consultation T +353 (0)21 4840721 / F +353 (0)21 4840726 E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie / www.aguerin.ie A 19 White Street, Georges Quay, Cork, Ireland Authorised Investment Intermediaries 10

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• Unparalleled support, guidance

international property group Savills. “There’s been an increase of almost 25% in January and February alone. I would class that as being a leading indicator.”

“We’re 25% up on viewings compared to the same time last year,” says Sheila O’Flynn of Sherry Fitzgerald in Cork.

Whether or not the increase in activity is a factor of the extension of the Mortgage Interest

Another issue that is playing on the minds of those considering buying a house this year is the realisation of the economic fact that the lower a market has dropped, the safer and more attractive an investment option it becomes. Or, as Joan Henry puts it: “Anyone buying in the market now is not going to be in negative equity; that’s certainly a positive.”

Call Douglas Mortgage Centre on 021 4897300 (available for appointment) or log onto douglasmortgage.ie

Michael Creedon QFA

Michael Creedon (t/a Douglas Mortgage Centre and douglasmortgage.ie) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY FEATURE

PROPERTY FEATURE

Distinctive Kedges has family appeal

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best asset:

Built back in 1926, this distinctive home off the Douglas Road in Cork, has plenty to offer, Tommy Barker reports

Douglas, Cork €720,000 300 sq m(3,300 sq ft) 6/7 Pending Yes Location and quality

Pictures: Denis Scannell

T

HE great family home Kedges has been like one of those ‘ Cut and Come Again’ plants that keeps on giving — it’s about to yield up its fifth individual house in its original, suburban Cork gardens.

And, that’s probably highly appropriate as this Douglas Road spot was home for years to market gardens stretching from the main to the back Douglas roads in this setting, little over a mile from Cork city centre.

One of the more distinctive detached houses along the Douglas Road, by the entrance to Rosebank estate, this 1926-built home with some faux Tudor touches, originally stood on three acres of gardens.

In its 80-plus years it’s had a good few owners: it included familiar ‘Cork’ family surnames like Thompson, Downes, Crosbie and Cudmores — the latter when themselves trading-down built a bungalow just to the south. Other extended family members also got house sites, all accessed off Rosebank.

Now, coming up once more for the first time in 25 years, its current family of occupants are again trading down — and building, thanks to Kedges’ generous measures.

Retired medical consultant Liam Mundow snapped up this house when it came for sale back in 1987, and reared a family in it, now all grown and flown. So, he’s set to build a bungalow on a remaining portion of the gardens he tended for decades: “We grew 17 types of vegetable here, we fed the house from the garden,” he points out.

Even as he takes his rightful site the distinctive Kedges has becomes available again on a still-fine footprint, now down to half an acre — but even that’s a privilege to get your hands on in this location.

The house, about to burst into wisteria and virginia-creeper cloaking, is towards the back of its site, closer to the road, which means the bulk of the garden is on the warm, southern side, with a swathe of old limestone paving for a large sun terrace before raised beds (built in old, cobblestones).Then there’s a quarter acre of verdant lawn, ringed by hedges, shrubs and trees which took off skywards since the gardens last got divvied out.

Kedges comes along as a fascinating prospect, with agent

12

Clare O’Sullivan of Savills, who guides it at €720,000 — a price which certainly should draw viewings — and not just from the curious.

While lots of it are gloriously oldfashioned, it’s still superbly comfortable and can take a family of any size — there’s scope for six, seven bedrooms, since the place was extended decades ago.

That extension holds three bedrooms plus shower room/ bathroom, and downstairs what used to be called ‘the ballroom,’ now a very large lounge with double aspect, garden access, and easily enough space in a space in a corner to hide a baby grand piano.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels, in a manner often overlooked by designers and builders: all of its best rooms are the back, facing south and full of sun and likely to be warm, while halls, corridors and service rooms/ bathrooms are to the north-facing side. It’s a floor plan as clever and relevant today as it was 90 years ago when built, is an idea that dates back to the ancient Greeks, and seems to have got forgotten as often as it got rediscovered. It works, brilliantly. Still.

So that ballroom/lounge, the main drawing room, the dining room and the kitchen/breakfast

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room all get to have a favourable sunny aspect, as do all of the main bedrooms above.

The master bedroom is large, bright, draws in the sound of birdsong from the gardens and has a large dressing room with lots of storage, and, separately, a goodsized en suite.

There’s no fewer than five bathrooms/WCs in all in the house, and a bit of a small scene stealer is the art nouveau-style stained glass door to the ground floor’s guest WC, set against a backdrop of a fully wood-panelled entrance hall.

That hall picks up the Tudor theme of some of Kedges part-timbered exterior, and while it’s full of character, gives an immediate appearance of being dark, something not borne out in the rest of this great home. (The hall floor is in very narrow strips of oak, while wider oak boards adorn other ground level rooms.)

While Kedges has been very wellmaintained, and recent-enough spending includes replacement windows on the south side, underpinning and drains work, it hasn’t been overcooked. The original steel windows, to the north side have been kept, for example — it preserves the character to the roadway — and rooms on the other side are bathrooms and utilities, so wouldn’t be overheated in any case.

The kitchen is a sort of 1970s work, entirely functional, but in dark timbers that won’t find too much favour with 21st century buyers.

As Kedges comes up for sale now in the midst of a market downturn, it may well be to its advantage as a place of considerable architectural integrity. If sold 10 years ago it would have been gutted or knocked, razed for sites (that happened a near contemporary, a house called Overton a couple of doors away.)

Now, it still holds its head high, and most buyers are more inclined to take further spending on their acquisitions a bit more cautiously than heretofore.

You could go into Kedges with high ambitions to lash out money, and find it quickly grows on you, asking to be left damn well enough alone, and to get on to rearing another family as it comes up to its 100th birthday in around 15 years time.

VERDICT: It’s a good one: Time to finance the Kedge-fund.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY FEATURE

PROPERTY FEATURE

Distinctive Kedges has family appeal

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best asset:

Built back in 1926, this distinctive home off the Douglas Road in Cork, has plenty to offer, Tommy Barker reports

Douglas, Cork €720,000 300 sq m(3,300 sq ft) 6/7 Pending Yes Location and quality

Pictures: Denis Scannell

T

HE great family home Kedges has been like one of those ‘ Cut and Come Again’ plants that keeps on giving — it’s about to yield up its fifth individual house in its original, suburban Cork gardens.

And, that’s probably highly appropriate as this Douglas Road spot was home for years to market gardens stretching from the main to the back Douglas roads in this setting, little over a mile from Cork city centre.

One of the more distinctive detached houses along the Douglas Road, by the entrance to Rosebank estate, this 1926-built home with some faux Tudor touches, originally stood on three acres of gardens.

In its 80-plus years it’s had a good few owners: it included familiar ‘Cork’ family surnames like Thompson, Downes, Crosbie and Cudmores — the latter when themselves trading-down built a bungalow just to the south. Other extended family members also got house sites, all accessed off Rosebank.

Now, coming up once more for the first time in 25 years, its current family of occupants are again trading down — and building, thanks to Kedges’ generous measures.

Retired medical consultant Liam Mundow snapped up this house when it came for sale back in 1987, and reared a family in it, now all grown and flown. So, he’s set to build a bungalow on a remaining portion of the gardens he tended for decades: “We grew 17 types of vegetable here, we fed the house from the garden,” he points out.

Even as he takes his rightful site the distinctive Kedges has becomes available again on a still-fine footprint, now down to half an acre — but even that’s a privilege to get your hands on in this location.

The house, about to burst into wisteria and virginia-creeper cloaking, is towards the back of its site, closer to the road, which means the bulk of the garden is on the warm, southern side, with a swathe of old limestone paving for a large sun terrace before raised beds (built in old, cobblestones).Then there’s a quarter acre of verdant lawn, ringed by hedges, shrubs and trees which took off skywards since the gardens last got divvied out.

Kedges comes along as a fascinating prospect, with agent

12

Clare O’Sullivan of Savills, who guides it at €720,000 — a price which certainly should draw viewings — and not just from the curious.

While lots of it are gloriously oldfashioned, it’s still superbly comfortable and can take a family of any size — there’s scope for six, seven bedrooms, since the place was extended decades ago.

That extension holds three bedrooms plus shower room/ bathroom, and downstairs what used to be called ‘the ballroom,’ now a very large lounge with double aspect, garden access, and easily enough space in a space in a corner to hide a baby grand piano.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels, in a manner often overlooked by designers and builders: all of its best rooms are the back, facing south and full of sun and likely to be warm, while halls, corridors and service rooms/ bathrooms are to the north-facing side. It’s a floor plan as clever and relevant today as it was 90 years ago when built, is an idea that dates back to the ancient Greeks, and seems to have got forgotten as often as it got rediscovered. It works, brilliantly. Still.

So that ballroom/lounge, the main drawing room, the dining room and the kitchen/breakfast

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room all get to have a favourable sunny aspect, as do all of the main bedrooms above.

The master bedroom is large, bright, draws in the sound of birdsong from the gardens and has a large dressing room with lots of storage, and, separately, a goodsized en suite.

There’s no fewer than five bathrooms/WCs in all in the house, and a bit of a small scene stealer is the art nouveau-style stained glass door to the ground floor’s guest WC, set against a backdrop of a fully wood-panelled entrance hall.

That hall picks up the Tudor theme of some of Kedges part-timbered exterior, and while it’s full of character, gives an immediate appearance of being dark, something not borne out in the rest of this great home. (The hall floor is in very narrow strips of oak, while wider oak boards adorn other ground level rooms.)

While Kedges has been very wellmaintained, and recent-enough spending includes replacement windows on the south side, underpinning and drains work, it hasn’t been overcooked. The original steel windows, to the north side have been kept, for example — it preserves the character to the roadway — and rooms on the other side are bathrooms and utilities, so wouldn’t be overheated in any case.

The kitchen is a sort of 1970s work, entirely functional, but in dark timbers that won’t find too much favour with 21st century buyers.

As Kedges comes up for sale now in the midst of a market downturn, it may well be to its advantage as a place of considerable architectural integrity. If sold 10 years ago it would have been gutted or knocked, razed for sites (that happened a near contemporary, a house called Overton a couple of doors away.)

Now, it still holds its head high, and most buyers are more inclined to take further spending on their acquisitions a bit more cautiously than heretofore.

You could go into Kedges with high ambitions to lash out money, and find it quickly grows on you, asking to be left damn well enough alone, and to get on to rearing another family as it comes up to its 100th birthday in around 15 years time.

VERDICT: It’s a good one: Time to finance the Kedge-fund.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY

Something in the air

The Cedars has that indefinable element that makes a house a home, Rose Martin reports

T

Pictures: Denis Scannell

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PROPERTY FEATURE

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Coachford, Co Cork €295,000 252 sq m (2,700 sq ft) 6 C1 Yes

Not to be overlooked

With an unrivalled site, oodles of space and a contemporary look with cedar trim, No 3 Kings Wood is ready to move into, writes Tommy Barker

HERE are some houses that just have it — an indefinable element that makes the difference between a house and

a home.

And it’s not about styling, or lack of it, or tidiness or a laissez faire attitude — it’s more about atmosphere.

The Cedars, at Nadrid, Coachford, has that special feel the minute you set foot in the door.

At first glance, it’s a modest house and a quick glance from the road makes it hard to define, it’s a ‘50s build, but modern and large, though not brash.

And it sits on a 0.7 acre site, but the casual passer by won’t know that either — you have to be inside, looking out to get the full effect.

The Cedars sits in the middle of its site with gardens on the sunny side and hard standing and plenty of parking at the northern, entrance point.

The house is a six-bed with a remarkable four en-suite bedrooms, a range of living rooms and a kitchencum-dining room with great storage, internally and in the detached garage.

This isn’t a fussy or staged house, it doesn’t have a discernible style, it’s not self-consciously anything other than a very well laid out family home.

There’s a bathroom for everyone and with three separate living rooms, the likelihood of remote control turf wars is diminished too.

The rooms follow the sun around, with a large patio for the midday sun, directly off the large dining room. This is a step down from the kitchen area and curiously has a second, spiral

staircase leading to the master bedroom overhead, which along with the small nursery bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe/storage area, makes a complete, self-contained suite.

The flexibility of space is a major selling point — proven by the vendors who manage three generations very comfortably under one roof. It’s that

kind of house.

Jeremy Murphy and Associates is inviting offers in the region of just €295,000 for this ready to go home.

VERDICT: A walk to Coachford village, and with a safe, enclosed garden that’s softly landscaped, this is certainly a house to see. Good views too.

C

OMING into the very top end of Waterford’s breakfast area. Then, there’s also a utility, and trading up market is what’s reckoned to one of separate family room — more than enough to fit any the city’s best modern family homes — No 3, family’s bill, says Ms Fogarty.

Kings Wood in handy Ballinakill.

There’s a strong impression a good designer’s hand There’s only six large detached houses here, built at work here, and the living room just off the kitchen, about five years ago, and selling agent Margaret and the dining room, each have feature ful-height Fogarty of Remax reckons No 3 has possibly the best corner windows, with glazed hardwood sliding doors site, as it’s not overlooked — in fact, it does a bit of so that “there’s as good a flow inside and outside as overlooking itself. there is inside from It has oodles of space, about room to room,” Location: Ballinakill, Waterford 3,400 sq ft in all, but that enthuses the agent.

Price: €625,000 includes a large, open plan Ceiling heights are second floor suitable for lots about 9’, and there’s a Size: 320 sq m (3,425 sq ft) of uses, finished out but as central vacuum system Bedrooms: 5 yet unpurposed. It would plus video-controlled make a great den, recreation access, with wiring for BER rating: Pending room or sumptuous suite, surround sound and suggests Ms Fogarty. broadband. There are Broadband: Yes Next floor down is home to quality finishes Best feature: As good outside as inside five bedrooms, with a great throughout, from oak master bedroom with walkjoinery and oak door, through dressing room and a large en suite bathroom stairs and doors, to marble hall floors, and the hall is with corner bath, all decked out in creamy, neutral open and airy, with all the main rooms flowing off it. tiles for a crisp, contemporary look.

Exterior facade treatments include render, cedar and The house has four bathrooms in all, with concrete brick, with a balcony with stainless steel rail off one slab floors adding to its solidness and sound-proofing: of the main upstairs rooms. built to last, approves its selling agent who says it’s The pristine gardens, meanwhile, ready to burst into one of the finest properties to come to the Waterford exuberant life, include tiered, sloped and raised beds, market in recent times (she might have some perimeter planting and a cobble paved patio, with a opposition with the owners and selling agents of No 1 key South-West aspect to the rear of the house paved.

Kings Wood nearby, with 3,500 sq ft and a fully There’s also parking for four cars in front, plus a finished top floor guiding at €790,000!) detached block-built garage with pitched roof.

No 3 has underfloor heating, and a great flow of VERDICT: A really good house, simple as. All settled rooms through its ground level with a big sitting down on its site, ready to move into, in a very popular room, dining room, a kitchen with island, and Waterford setting near the regional hospital.

14

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY

Something in the air

The Cedars has that indefinable element that makes a house a home, Rose Martin reports

T

Pictures: Denis Scannell

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PROPERTY FEATURE

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Coachford, Co Cork €295,000 252 sq m (2,700 sq ft) 6 C1 Yes

Not to be overlooked

With an unrivalled site, oodles of space and a contemporary look with cedar trim, No 3 Kings Wood is ready to move into, writes Tommy Barker

HERE are some houses that just have it — an indefinable element that makes the difference between a house and

a home.

And it’s not about styling, or lack of it, or tidiness or a laissez faire attitude — it’s more about atmosphere.

The Cedars, at Nadrid, Coachford, has that special feel the minute you set foot in the door.

At first glance, it’s a modest house and a quick glance from the road makes it hard to define, it’s a ‘50s build, but modern and large, though not brash.

And it sits on a 0.7 acre site, but the casual passer by won’t know that either — you have to be inside, looking out to get the full effect.

The Cedars sits in the middle of its site with gardens on the sunny side and hard standing and plenty of parking at the northern, entrance point.

The house is a six-bed with a remarkable four en-suite bedrooms, a range of living rooms and a kitchencum-dining room with great storage, internally and in the detached garage.

This isn’t a fussy or staged house, it doesn’t have a discernible style, it’s not self-consciously anything other than a very well laid out family home.

There’s a bathroom for everyone and with three separate living rooms, the likelihood of remote control turf wars is diminished too.

The rooms follow the sun around, with a large patio for the midday sun, directly off the large dining room. This is a step down from the kitchen area and curiously has a second, spiral

staircase leading to the master bedroom overhead, which along with the small nursery bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe/storage area, makes a complete, self-contained suite.

The flexibility of space is a major selling point — proven by the vendors who manage three generations very comfortably under one roof. It’s that

kind of house.

Jeremy Murphy and Associates is inviting offers in the region of just €295,000 for this ready to go home.

VERDICT: A walk to Coachford village, and with a safe, enclosed garden that’s softly landscaped, this is certainly a house to see. Good views too.

C

OMING into the very top end of Waterford’s breakfast area. Then, there’s also a utility, and trading up market is what’s reckoned to one of separate family room — more than enough to fit any the city’s best modern family homes — No 3, family’s bill, says Ms Fogarty.

Kings Wood in handy Ballinakill.

There’s a strong impression a good designer’s hand There’s only six large detached houses here, built at work here, and the living room just off the kitchen, about five years ago, and selling agent Margaret and the dining room, each have feature ful-height Fogarty of Remax reckons No 3 has possibly the best corner windows, with glazed hardwood sliding doors site, as it’s not overlooked — in fact, it does a bit of so that “there’s as good a flow inside and outside as overlooking itself. there is inside from It has oodles of space, about room to room,” Location: Ballinakill, Waterford 3,400 sq ft in all, but that enthuses the agent.

Price: €625,000 includes a large, open plan Ceiling heights are second floor suitable for lots about 9’, and there’s a Size: 320 sq m (3,425 sq ft) of uses, finished out but as central vacuum system Bedrooms: 5 yet unpurposed. It would plus video-controlled make a great den, recreation access, with wiring for BER rating: Pending room or sumptuous suite, surround sound and suggests Ms Fogarty. broadband. There are Broadband: Yes Next floor down is home to quality finishes Best feature: As good outside as inside five bedrooms, with a great throughout, from oak master bedroom with walkjoinery and oak door, through dressing room and a large en suite bathroom stairs and doors, to marble hall floors, and the hall is with corner bath, all decked out in creamy, neutral open and airy, with all the main rooms flowing off it. tiles for a crisp, contemporary look.

Exterior facade treatments include render, cedar and The house has four bathrooms in all, with concrete brick, with a balcony with stainless steel rail off one slab floors adding to its solidness and sound-proofing: of the main upstairs rooms. built to last, approves its selling agent who says it’s The pristine gardens, meanwhile, ready to burst into one of the finest properties to come to the Waterford exuberant life, include tiered, sloped and raised beds, market in recent times (she might have some perimeter planting and a cobble paved patio, with a opposition with the owners and selling agents of No 1 key South-West aspect to the rear of the house paved.

Kings Wood nearby, with 3,500 sq ft and a fully There’s also parking for four cars in front, plus a finished top floor guiding at €790,000!) detached block-built garage with pitched roof.

No 3 has underfloor heating, and a great flow of VERDICT: A really good house, simple as. All settled rooms through its ground level with a big sitting down on its site, ready to move into, in a very popular room, dining room, a kitchen with island, and Waterford setting near the regional hospital.

14

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Safe harbour: the romance of life on the waterfront

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

Great Island, Cork Harbour €3 million 740 sq m (8,000 sq ft) 7 plus two lodges Exempt Sublime

In its 200 years, East Grove, on Cork’s Great Island, has had owners of many nationalities including the Glucksmans, says Tommy Barker

I

Pictures: Denis Scannell

S EAST GROVE the most romantic house in Ireland? Well, its caretaker Edward O’Riordan thinks so. He’s been working here since 1986, when he was aged 15 — and several years ago, he met and married the artist Brenda Kelly, when she came to paint a mural here for philanthropic owners, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman.

Brenda’s murals adorn the walls of the indoor swimming pool among East Grove’s wonderful, wooded 14 acres — and she and Edward are now proud parents of a 13-month-old Juliette, who has free rein on the lawns of this great harbour home, newly up for sale.

East Grove, on Great Island near Cobh in Cork harbour, became home to the former 1980s Lehman bank CEO, Lewis Glucksman, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman when they bought it in the late 1990s from the eccentric, vagabonding German/US/Irish family, the Kellys — who had ringed East Grove with security measures and burly guards.

Edward says “the Gluckmans were the best owners in my time, nearly all of the owners improved it in some way or another and invested in it, but the Glucksmans did the most, and enjoyed it the best.”

On a waterfront site in Cork harbour, the picturesque cottage, gothic-style East Grove dates to the early 1800s, and was first associated with the Bagwell family, staying in generations of family hands until the 1950s. Since then, it has had Irish, English, American, Dutch, German and Lebanese owners, with the Gluckmans bringing a Hungarian link. Lew Glucksman — who spent most of his later years in East Grove and its gardens — died aged 80 in 2006, and now with declining usage, Loretta Brennan Glucksman has decided to sell.

She is third-generation Irish-

16

American, and headed up the American Ireland Fund around the time the couple bought and renovated East Grove.

Their philanthropic supports included Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, where Lew had studied, as well as TCD and UL, and an academic chair at the University of Aberdeen. The powerful couple were significant donors to UCC’s award-winning and architecturally acclaimed art

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

gallery, named the Glucksman Gallery, notes former president Gerry Wrixon who said they made great use of East Grove.

As it comes up for sale in 2012, it is pretty as any picture, an artfully balanced package, and is going to be one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

In keeping with its past 50 years of international ownership, its new residents could come from anywhere — Russia, England, the US, India,

China — or Cork. The city’s only 15 miles, or 30 minutes, away, the airport a little further on, and there’s the private jetty for those who like to travel by boat.

As it waits for a new chapter of ownership, aspiring buyers might like to know some of its older history, too: attached to the northern end of the elegant, understated, low-slung, twostorey building is a rounded tower structure, a polygon, home to a quite imposing formal dining room with ornate plasterwork, while directly overhead a former bedroom has now been made over to library status by the Gluckmans; it’s one of this fine house’s finest spaces.

East Grove comes to market in great health, inside and out, on 14 acres, with the house tucked into the north-east corner, and with several hundred metres of shoreline.

That vital water aspect includes two small boathouses, two safe docks ringed in stone, and a pontoon capable of accommodating several craft.

Lewis Glucksman was an old salt, and had served in the US Navy in WW2, as a teenage volunteer. His interest in boats is commemorated in East Grove by a haul of nautical and naval memorabilia and artworks, as well as by a painting of one of his boats, the 45’ Lugh IV, in pride of place on one of the dining room walls. It was painted by Brenda, who was also commissioned to paint some of Lew’s other passions.

Represented on the walls in modest-sized works here are Lugh IV, New York’s Twin Towers, a collection of books and East Grove itself.

Also with a longer, bolder naval link is the name plaque on the rounded tower’s front, marked ‘Trafalgar 1805,’ recalling Admiral Nelson’s signal Napoleonic war sea victory, while another folly, a tall stone tower by the walled

Keeper: East Grove’s caretaker Edward O’Riordan has tended the property since 1986. He’s pictured by a swimming pool wall mural painted by Brenda Kelly — whom he met, wooed and wed at East Grove.

garden, is called the Waterloo Tower, after a subsequent battering of Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

Selling agents for East Grove are Dominic Daly in Cork City, who has handled the last several successful sales of what is assuredly one of Cork’s (if not Munster’s,) best properties, jointly with Harriet Grant of Knight Frank in Dublin City.

Guide price is €3 million, which also makes it one of the stronger market offerings of the moment — but it’s a good ’un, a quite perfect package.

Location is picture-perfect, at the sheltered Cork harbour tidal inlet of East Ferry, on the east side of Great Island, a backwater reached via Marlogue and Cuskinny, with

oyster farming nearby — and all the signs of rich mussel beds, as well as sea birds who use East Grove’s paved areas to smash open mollusc shells.

There’s a constant sweeping up of shells, says Edward, who started at East Grove when he was sent here to sweep leaves.

And stayed.

Lots of leaves.

Now, he knows and cares for just about every rood and perch of its 14 acres, and every floorboard of the built properties.

They include a two-bed gate lodge by the half-mile-long wooded approach drive past a stone arch, while a walking route circles the grounds, linking up with the tennis court, paddocks and newly

enclosed swimming pool, built with glulam beams and triple glazing, with its solid wall adorned by woodland murals

by Brenda.

Trees here are specimen status, and include rhododendron, laurel, oak, beech, pines, macrocarpa or Monterey cypress, magnolia, ash and limes. The more recent planting was by previous owner Jack Oppenheim, and by the Glucksmans, who also made sure the walled garden and orchard were maintained, fruiting and productive (the list of soft fruits grown would fill a column).

In addition to the boathouses and gate lodge, there’s an excellent-quality one-bedroom, two-storey guest cottage by the

lofted and cobbled stable yard, with three stables, tack room, work room and a large coachhouse, recently reroofed after the rare snows of two winters ago brought the old one down.

And, like parts of the main house, the yard’s buildings are draped in climbing plants like wisteria and Virginia creeper, with stems as thick as tree trunks.

Every part of East Grove is redolent of graceful age and thoughtful care, the main house most of all. It’s in quite excellent order, decoratively and otherwise, and dressed to impress.

As the departing family have already taken most of what’s important to them, there’s the

option to buy East Grove complete, with furniture, paintings, and more — ready to move into, by negotiation.

When last put up for sale, East Grove had nine bedrooms; now that tally is reduced to seven, as other uses have been found for some, but, in any case, it is an accommodating and adaptable home, with new oil-heating boiler, and working window shutters in the main.

There doesn’t seem to be a room that hasn’t been looked after in the past decade, and decor is low-key, appropriate, and in keeping with aged stone and timber floors, huge fireplaces and lots and lots of French doors and tall windows.

Adding to the house’s overall bright and >>>

As East Grove comes up for sale, it is pretty as a picture, an artfully balanced package, one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Safe harbour: the romance of life on the waterfront

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

Great Island, Cork Harbour €3 million 740 sq m (8,000 sq ft) 7 plus two lodges Exempt Sublime

In its 200 years, East Grove, on Cork’s Great Island, has had owners of many nationalities including the Glucksmans, says Tommy Barker

I

Pictures: Denis Scannell

S EAST GROVE the most romantic house in Ireland? Well, its caretaker Edward O’Riordan thinks so. He’s been working here since 1986, when he was aged 15 — and several years ago, he met and married the artist Brenda Kelly, when she came to paint a mural here for philanthropic owners, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman.

Brenda’s murals adorn the walls of the indoor swimming pool among East Grove’s wonderful, wooded 14 acres — and she and Edward are now proud parents of a 13-month-old Juliette, who has free rein on the lawns of this great harbour home, newly up for sale.

East Grove, on Great Island near Cobh in Cork harbour, became home to the former 1980s Lehman bank CEO, Lewis Glucksman, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman when they bought it in the late 1990s from the eccentric, vagabonding German/US/Irish family, the Kellys — who had ringed East Grove with security measures and burly guards.

Edward says “the Gluckmans were the best owners in my time, nearly all of the owners improved it in some way or another and invested in it, but the Glucksmans did the most, and enjoyed it the best.”

On a waterfront site in Cork harbour, the picturesque cottage, gothic-style East Grove dates to the early 1800s, and was first associated with the Bagwell family, staying in generations of family hands until the 1950s. Since then, it has had Irish, English, American, Dutch, German and Lebanese owners, with the Gluckmans bringing a Hungarian link. Lew Glucksman — who spent most of his later years in East Grove and its gardens — died aged 80 in 2006, and now with declining usage, Loretta Brennan Glucksman has decided to sell.

She is third-generation Irish-

16

American, and headed up the American Ireland Fund around the time the couple bought and renovated East Grove.

Their philanthropic supports included Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, where Lew had studied, as well as TCD and UL, and an academic chair at the University of Aberdeen. The powerful couple were significant donors to UCC’s award-winning and architecturally acclaimed art

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

gallery, named the Glucksman Gallery, notes former president Gerry Wrixon who said they made great use of East Grove.

As it comes up for sale in 2012, it is pretty as any picture, an artfully balanced package, and is going to be one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

In keeping with its past 50 years of international ownership, its new residents could come from anywhere — Russia, England, the US, India,

China — or Cork. The city’s only 15 miles, or 30 minutes, away, the airport a little further on, and there’s the private jetty for those who like to travel by boat.

As it waits for a new chapter of ownership, aspiring buyers might like to know some of its older history, too: attached to the northern end of the elegant, understated, low-slung, twostorey building is a rounded tower structure, a polygon, home to a quite imposing formal dining room with ornate plasterwork, while directly overhead a former bedroom has now been made over to library status by the Gluckmans; it’s one of this fine house’s finest spaces.

East Grove comes to market in great health, inside and out, on 14 acres, with the house tucked into the north-east corner, and with several hundred metres of shoreline.

That vital water aspect includes two small boathouses, two safe docks ringed in stone, and a pontoon capable of accommodating several craft.

Lewis Glucksman was an old salt, and had served in the US Navy in WW2, as a teenage volunteer. His interest in boats is commemorated in East Grove by a haul of nautical and naval memorabilia and artworks, as well as by a painting of one of his boats, the 45’ Lugh IV, in pride of place on one of the dining room walls. It was painted by Brenda, who was also commissioned to paint some of Lew’s other passions.

Represented on the walls in modest-sized works here are Lugh IV, New York’s Twin Towers, a collection of books and East Grove itself.

Also with a longer, bolder naval link is the name plaque on the rounded tower’s front, marked ‘Trafalgar 1805,’ recalling Admiral Nelson’s signal Napoleonic war sea victory, while another folly, a tall stone tower by the walled

Keeper: East Grove’s caretaker Edward O’Riordan has tended the property since 1986. He’s pictured by a swimming pool wall mural painted by Brenda Kelly — whom he met, wooed and wed at East Grove.

garden, is called the Waterloo Tower, after a subsequent battering of Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

Selling agents for East Grove are Dominic Daly in Cork City, who has handled the last several successful sales of what is assuredly one of Cork’s (if not Munster’s,) best properties, jointly with Harriet Grant of Knight Frank in Dublin City.

Guide price is €3 million, which also makes it one of the stronger market offerings of the moment — but it’s a good ’un, a quite perfect package.

Location is picture-perfect, at the sheltered Cork harbour tidal inlet of East Ferry, on the east side of Great Island, a backwater reached via Marlogue and Cuskinny, with

oyster farming nearby — and all the signs of rich mussel beds, as well as sea birds who use East Grove’s paved areas to smash open mollusc shells.

There’s a constant sweeping up of shells, says Edward, who started at East Grove when he was sent here to sweep leaves.

And stayed.

Lots of leaves.

Now, he knows and cares for just about every rood and perch of its 14 acres, and every floorboard of the built properties.

They include a two-bed gate lodge by the half-mile-long wooded approach drive past a stone arch, while a walking route circles the grounds, linking up with the tennis court, paddocks and newly

enclosed swimming pool, built with glulam beams and triple glazing, with its solid wall adorned by woodland murals

by Brenda.

Trees here are specimen status, and include rhododendron, laurel, oak, beech, pines, macrocarpa or Monterey cypress, magnolia, ash and limes. The more recent planting was by previous owner Jack Oppenheim, and by the Glucksmans, who also made sure the walled garden and orchard were maintained, fruiting and productive (the list of soft fruits grown would fill a column).

In addition to the boathouses and gate lodge, there’s an excellent-quality one-bedroom, two-storey guest cottage by the

lofted and cobbled stable yard, with three stables, tack room, work room and a large coachhouse, recently reroofed after the rare snows of two winters ago brought the old one down.

And, like parts of the main house, the yard’s buildings are draped in climbing plants like wisteria and Virginia creeper, with stems as thick as tree trunks.

Every part of East Grove is redolent of graceful age and thoughtful care, the main house most of all. It’s in quite excellent order, decoratively and otherwise, and dressed to impress.

As the departing family have already taken most of what’s important to them, there’s the

option to buy East Grove complete, with furniture, paintings, and more — ready to move into, by negotiation.

When last put up for sale, East Grove had nine bedrooms; now that tally is reduced to seven, as other uses have been found for some, but, in any case, it is an accommodating and adaptable home, with new oil-heating boiler, and working window shutters in the main.

There doesn’t seem to be a room that hasn’t been looked after in the past decade, and decor is low-key, appropriate, and in keeping with aged stone and timber floors, huge fireplaces and lots and lots of French doors and tall windows.

Adding to the house’s overall bright and >>>

As East Grove comes up for sale, it is pretty as a picture, an artfully balanced package, one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them 1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Niche work — if you can get it done professionally.

This arch is adorned by a rustic mural

2 Frame it. Art around a door frame will catch the eye every time you pass through

3 Because you’ve urned it.

Old garden urns and ornaments create appropriate focal points

4 Leave a mark. A painting of one of Lew Gluckmans’ boats is given pride of place in a dining room wall panel

5 Get knotted. This house’s water frontage is noted in this speed limit restriction for marine craft

6 French doors and a balcony off a bedroom are the way to enjoy a view like this

>>> healthy feel is the enclosed central atrium, separating the formal, main reception rooms (which face east) from the west-facing smaller private rooms.

The house, incidentally, has three staircases, so getting around is never hard, plus there’s a lift for those with mobility issues, or loads to tote.

Main rooms here all look towards the water (the compromise of the house’s open aspect is that it is prominent to those passing in boats and through picturesque East Ferry across the way): those rooms include one of the two studies, the smaller of the two libraries, and the immense 32’ by 23’ drawing room with Adam-style fireplace, graceful arch and bay window.

To the house’s far end, in the curvaceous Trafalgar Tower, is the 650 sq ft dining

18

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room, with ornate plasterwork in high ceilings, set off by a 6’ tall black marble chimney piece, and with three sets of French doors to the gardens.

Off outside, nearby, is a walled yard, ornamental pond with fountain, and lawns separately planted with bluebells and daffodils: the next few month are East Grove’s glory days in the gardens, says O’Riordan, who’s seen 26 years of change, and seasonality, here.

As East Grove comes afresh to market, with the setting the equal of the house in a quite perfect package, lovers of stunninglylocated houses might entertain dreams of significant Lotto wins: if there’s any justice, the winning ticket will be in O’Riordan’s young family hands.

If not, he may be willing to work on for another while yet.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

19

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:13:23:31Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:18

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

COVER STORY

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them 1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Niche work — if you can get it done professionally.

This arch is adorned by a rustic mural

2 Frame it. Art around a door frame will catch the eye every time you pass through

3 Because you’ve urned it.

Old garden urns and ornaments create appropriate focal points

4 Leave a mark. A painting of one of Lew Gluckmans’ boats is given pride of place in a dining room wall panel

5 Get knotted. This house’s water frontage is noted in this speed limit restriction for marine craft

6 French doors and a balcony off a bedroom are the way to enjoy a view like this

>>> healthy feel is the enclosed central atrium, separating the formal, main reception rooms (which face east) from the west-facing smaller private rooms.

The house, incidentally, has three staircases, so getting around is never hard, plus there’s a lift for those with mobility issues, or loads to tote.

Main rooms here all look towards the water (the compromise of the house’s open aspect is that it is prominent to those passing in boats and through picturesque East Ferry across the way): those rooms include one of the two studies, the smaller of the two libraries, and the immense 32’ by 23’ drawing room with Adam-style fireplace, graceful arch and bay window.

To the house’s far end, in the curvaceous Trafalgar Tower, is the 650 sq ft dining

18

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room, with ornate plasterwork in high ceilings, set off by a 6’ tall black marble chimney piece, and with three sets of French doors to the gardens.

Off outside, nearby, is a walled yard, ornamental pond with fountain, and lawns separately planted with bluebells and daffodils: the next few month are East Grove’s glory days in the gardens, says O’Riordan, who’s seen 26 years of change, and seasonality, here.

As East Grove comes afresh to market, with the setting the equal of the house in a quite perfect package, lovers of stunninglylocated houses might entertain dreams of significant Lotto wins: if there’s any justice, the winning ticket will be in O’Riordan’s young family hands.

If not, he may be willing to work on for another while yet.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

19

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:12:50:55Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:20

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Bed buds

Carol O’Callaghan says a comfortable bed and linens are crucial if you want to avoid a restless night’s sleep

SOMETHINGEXTRA This week we love...

■ ...the work of Bob Johnston, a Co Down-based basket maker who has taken this traditional craft and turned it into art. His astonishing renderings of animals have a sculptural quality belying the seeming simplicity of basket craft. Johnston’s work is on display at Fortnum & Mason’s at Piccadilly in London. See bobjohnstonbaskets.co.uk

King Koil, much beloved by five star hotels and endorsed by the International Chiropractic Association, are available for the home bedroom (at New Furniture Centre, priced typically from €999).

Add texture and colour Opting for the in-vogue look of simple plain walls, painted floors and white bed linens? Include a little texture and colour just to add some warmth.

A floral duvet with matching pillowcases is on-trend this season, and if you fancy a change of look from time to time, the reverse features a white spot on a duck-egg background (Rose bed linen from Debenhams €67.50).

A beautifully upholstered chaise longue is a lovely addition to the bedroom as a place to enjoy a quiet moment away from domestic chaos (Floral chaise from TK Maxx €399.99) A throw can look great folded across the end of a white duvet and pulled up on chilly nights.

Check out the Patchwork from Next Interiors (€77).

Cushion right finishing touch Our dear old reliable friend the cushion always looks great as the finishing touch on bed linens propped up against the pillows.

Consider a unit for behind the bed that functions as a headboard and nightstand too (white lacquered and walnut veneer bed €1,495; white lacquered base cabinets, and wall-mounted cabinet €199 each at Bo Concept).

Correct support is absolutely essential in a mattress. The SleepSpa KS gel model aims to support a healthy sleeping alignment for a sound and restorative night’s sleep. From EZ Living Furniture, price according to mattress size.

D

OES size really matter? Yes, it does when it comes to your bed and linens, especially if you have a sleeping partner on the large size or if they happen to be a duvet-hogger.

For decades bed partners were happy with the traditional four foot six bed, but larger houses and our prosperity fuelled larger selves have us indulging in five and six foot versions which are great if you are sleeping with someone restless and don’t want to be disturbed.

But when investing in a new bed, or maybe just a new mattress, bear in mind the importance of the latter far outweighs the choice of bed style.

Afterall, we spend a third of our lives asleep, so when you pop to the shops lie on several options to test them out and

20

take off your coat to replicate being in light clothing. And if you are sharing it with someone else, drag them along and insist they test it with you. It’s reckoned a mattress shared by two needs to be replaced every 10 years, which is a long time to sleep on one that isn’t right for you.

Bear in mind larger beds can overwhelm a small room. Divans are great if storage space is tight and you opt for one with drawers set into the base, but their solid appearance may add to the bulk of the bed. They are, however, an excellent option due to their height if you have the misfortune to suffer with back problems, or the early morning creakiness of arthritis, as they are much easier to get out of than low level beds. But if aesthetics are your

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

only concern, a low-level bed on legs with space underneath will seem lighter and not oppressive.

Headboards are a matter of personal taste, although there is a new look for using a shelf unit behind a divan to site a reading lamp and clock, which is a great idea if you lack space for bedside tables. Check out some repeats of Sex and the City and the shelf behind Carrie’s bed to get the picture.

Beds traditionally sit against a wall, but there’s a new vogue for having them in the centre of the room. Mind you, a pretty big room is required to make this work and the headboard would need to be a statement piece finished beautifully behind as well as to the front in case anyone walks behind it. If you have a divan, a low unit behind to stop the

pillows falling off is essential. Fab though this look is in the right environment it’s not something that would appeal long term to those of us who like the sense of security that a bed against the wall provides.

When it comes to linens it’s a very good idea to buy a duvet and top sheet bigger than your bed size if you share it. So if yours is a four foot six double, buy for a five foot king which will be marked 150cm x 200cm on the packaging. This is especially important if you sleep with the bed clothes hogger mentioned earlier and to minimise the 4am chill when hogger steals most of the duvet.

■ Next week we’re looking at multi-functional products for the home.

Gingham, embroidery and naive-style applique come together on the adorable Bicycle cushion cover by Greengate (from Garrendenny Lane Interiors (€59).

Postage stamps, addressed envelopes and billet-doux are all themes on cushions this season like the Carte Postale from Dunnes Stores (€18).

Beautiful linens will transform the look of your bedroom (Lotus by Designers Guild at Windows Interior Designer Library, O’Mahony Interiors, and The Fabulous Fabric Company €110).

Try the off-the-wall look if space allows you to have your bed in the centre of the room. (Malm bed from Ikea €161.63, three-piece surrounding shelf set €161.63).

Rectangular cushions are the shape of the season and in the Birdcage by Matthew Williamson features on-trend embroidery (€42).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

21

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:12:50:55Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:20

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Bed buds

Carol O’Callaghan says a comfortable bed and linens are crucial if you want to avoid a restless night’s sleep

SOMETHINGEXTRA This week we love...

■ ...the work of Bob Johnston, a Co Down-based basket maker who has taken this traditional craft and turned it into art. His astonishing renderings of animals have a sculptural quality belying the seeming simplicity of basket craft. Johnston’s work is on display at Fortnum & Mason’s at Piccadilly in London. See bobjohnstonbaskets.co.uk

King Koil, much beloved by five star hotels and endorsed by the International Chiropractic Association, are available for the home bedroom (at New Furniture Centre, priced typically from €999).

Add texture and colour Opting for the in-vogue look of simple plain walls, painted floors and white bed linens? Include a little texture and colour just to add some warmth.

A floral duvet with matching pillowcases is on-trend this season, and if you fancy a change of look from time to time, the reverse features a white spot on a duck-egg background (Rose bed linen from Debenhams €67.50).

A beautifully upholstered chaise longue is a lovely addition to the bedroom as a place to enjoy a quiet moment away from domestic chaos (Floral chaise from TK Maxx €399.99) A throw can look great folded across the end of a white duvet and pulled up on chilly nights.

Check out the Patchwork from Next Interiors (€77).

Cushion right finishing touch Our dear old reliable friend the cushion always looks great as the finishing touch on bed linens propped up against the pillows.

Consider a unit for behind the bed that functions as a headboard and nightstand too (white lacquered and walnut veneer bed €1,495; white lacquered base cabinets, and wall-mounted cabinet €199 each at Bo Concept).

Correct support is absolutely essential in a mattress. The SleepSpa KS gel model aims to support a healthy sleeping alignment for a sound and restorative night’s sleep. From EZ Living Furniture, price according to mattress size.

D

OES size really matter? Yes, it does when it comes to your bed and linens, especially if you have a sleeping partner on the large size or if they happen to be a duvet-hogger.

For decades bed partners were happy with the traditional four foot six bed, but larger houses and our prosperity fuelled larger selves have us indulging in five and six foot versions which are great if you are sleeping with someone restless and don’t want to be disturbed.

But when investing in a new bed, or maybe just a new mattress, bear in mind the importance of the latter far outweighs the choice of bed style.

Afterall, we spend a third of our lives asleep, so when you pop to the shops lie on several options to test them out and

20

take off your coat to replicate being in light clothing. And if you are sharing it with someone else, drag them along and insist they test it with you. It’s reckoned a mattress shared by two needs to be replaced every 10 years, which is a long time to sleep on one that isn’t right for you.

Bear in mind larger beds can overwhelm a small room. Divans are great if storage space is tight and you opt for one with drawers set into the base, but their solid appearance may add to the bulk of the bed. They are, however, an excellent option due to their height if you have the misfortune to suffer with back problems, or the early morning creakiness of arthritis, as they are much easier to get out of than low level beds. But if aesthetics are your

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

only concern, a low-level bed on legs with space underneath will seem lighter and not oppressive.

Headboards are a matter of personal taste, although there is a new look for using a shelf unit behind a divan to site a reading lamp and clock, which is a great idea if you lack space for bedside tables. Check out some repeats of Sex and the City and the shelf behind Carrie’s bed to get the picture.

Beds traditionally sit against a wall, but there’s a new vogue for having them in the centre of the room. Mind you, a pretty big room is required to make this work and the headboard would need to be a statement piece finished beautifully behind as well as to the front in case anyone walks behind it. If you have a divan, a low unit behind to stop the

pillows falling off is essential. Fab though this look is in the right environment it’s not something that would appeal long term to those of us who like the sense of security that a bed against the wall provides.

When it comes to linens it’s a very good idea to buy a duvet and top sheet bigger than your bed size if you share it. So if yours is a four foot six double, buy for a five foot king which will be marked 150cm x 200cm on the packaging. This is especially important if you sleep with the bed clothes hogger mentioned earlier and to minimise the 4am chill when hogger steals most of the duvet.

■ Next week we’re looking at multi-functional products for the home.

Gingham, embroidery and naive-style applique come together on the adorable Bicycle cushion cover by Greengate (from Garrendenny Lane Interiors (€59).

Postage stamps, addressed envelopes and billet-doux are all themes on cushions this season like the Carte Postale from Dunnes Stores (€18).

Beautiful linens will transform the look of your bedroom (Lotus by Designers Guild at Windows Interior Designer Library, O’Mahony Interiors, and The Fabulous Fabric Company €110).

Try the off-the-wall look if space allows you to have your bed in the centre of the room. (Malm bed from Ikea €161.63, three-piece surrounding shelf set €161.63).

Rectangular cushions are the shape of the season and in the Birdcage by Matthew Williamson features on-trend embroidery (€42).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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DIY

DIY

MAKE MANTEL CENTRE OF ATTRACTION

TIPS FOR SELECTING AND ARRANGING MANTELPIECES: 1. Less is more (it really is). Crowded mantelpieces rarely succeed, unless you have the eye of a great decorator creating a deliberately cosy ganging of things. If you’re frustrated at not getting all your favourites out there, rotate your collection regularly.

2. Choose an odd number for groups.

One wonderful thing can stand alone, and three and five are great group numbers, and for standing pieces a variety of heights allows them all to be seen to be best advantage. For solid tradition, clock ‘garnitures’, with a central clock and two flanking candlesticks holders or supports, are widely available at auction.

What you place on a mantelpiece can add real presence to a focal point in the room, writes Kya deLongchamps

I

N terms of energy efficiency an open fireplace is a curiosity from the past. Gaping into a room from a wide snaking tunnel to the great outdoors, it directs around 70% of any heat generated by a fire straight up the chimney. The role of a real flame fire as a gathering point and primary comfort still holds our hearts, and we naturally look towards a fireplace, lit or not when entering a room. Closing off the opening in favour of a wood or multi-fuel stove with an insulated flu system is the sane alternative. It’s all about control. Still, in the majority of cases the surrounding fireplace and mantel survive, even if our gaze and the furniture arrangement now praise the television rather than the fireside.

A SINGULAR SHELF The mantel is in some cases a signature architectural feature topping magnificent pillared supports, and even at worst is a glorified shelf floating over a standard opening.

It’s generally high and quite wide, so give it the status it deserves by adding treasured pieces you can look at for long periods. If the breast is fading into the surrounding wall make it jump out by painting any recess at its sides a darker colour, or paint or paper the breast itself in an energising design.

If the area has no presence at all, think about installing a wider more impressive overmantel to turn an ordinary fireplace into a real feature.

Anything from a sleeper to a piece of driftwood or reclaimed mantel will do the job once it’s well supported level and sufficiently protected from the heat below.

You can use any stable object you like to decorate the area. Easy-to-clean surfaces are useful as they won’t harbour every spec of the dust generated by even the tightest stove. It’s worth remembering that tantalising articles may attract children to a high shelf overhanging a hot stove or fire.

Always detail a fireplace with an appropriate guard.

REFLECTED GLORY Once you’re have the wall colour sorted out, mirrors are a natural choice for mantels. They have not only multiple light but the muscular frames designed for this area have an unapologetic lookat-me line and decorative finish.

Traditional over-mantels stand on the fireplace, secured on the wall by flat

22

mounts, adding to the outline of the surround with a bold vertical thrust, ideal if the ceiling is pressing down in a cramped room.

A stunning period surround set in a high ceiling room can take a majestic overmantel as large as itself, and if you find a period piece leave a ghosted aging glass in place, it really is part of its charm and value.

If the character of the mantel and fireplace surround stand alone, take the mirror up the wall creating some sense of quiet separation. Use a large mirror that reasonably matches the width of the mantle edge to edge, and keep in mind what they reflect as this becomes a virtual ‘picture’. Mirrors like paintings are made to be looked into, so don’t hang it too high.

When you place things before the mirror, their impact is doubled, great for flowers dressing up an unlit fire surround. If you are using a smaller mirror, sconces, lighting or matching framed artwork on either side creates harmony, bringing the eye up from the side elements of the fireplace, and delivering a relationship.

3. Huddle up. Don’t be afraid to put the members of a group close together in a family of objects. Observers will come closer to examine them, and for small pieces this gives them greater status when viewed from a distance. You can choose a colour, type, texture or contrast to play with in the grouping.

4. Room to breathe. Individual pieces and groups need a framing of nothingness to be seen and to visually ‘breathe’. Let the wall colour bring them into relief.

5. Matches can be loose. When pairing up things for either end of the mantelpiece, experiment with a matching volume of things rather than a standard placement of two identical things. Higher or heavier at one end than the other can be lop-sided to the eye.

A simple opening and slender shelf is balanced by one great ceramic vase and widely splayed display of branches in a bold but relaxing tone on tone display. It really is that easy.

6. Avoid a parade at equal distances.

Placing small, similar ornaments, no matter how lovely, every four inches along a mantle or shelf is an interior decorator disaster. It’s too lineal, formal, uncomfortable and dull.

7. Found materials and naturals. A large glass jar makes a charming host for everything from pebbles to shells. Found materials, including driftwood, bare branches set in a vase, and flowers and cuttings culled form the garden, can set the season over the fireplace.

ARTFUL IDEAS Using symmetry for the hanging pieces, you can replace the mirror with a large piece of artwork in either a picture, wall hung textile or a shallow piece of sculpture. Again, balance the larger piece in the middle on either side, and edge to edge with the mantle below with loosely similar sizes and styles of hanging pieces for visual harmony.

Odd numbers, in this case three (the centrepiece is one and the two flanking making up three) or an implied group of three made up of smaller pieces, works best. We’ll see when adding, freestanding items on the shelf, that odd numbers are a favourite that generally satisfy the eye when placing ornaments.

You don’t have to hang the centre piece of artwork and can rest it casually on the mantelshelf, or even stack a couple of varying size of pictures or mirror on each other, allowing each to be sufficiently seen.

Ensure any unsecured frames are not likely to be tipped forward on a slender surface. When we say ‘artwork’, keep in mind that art is what you value and want to look at. A digital blow up of your child’s first experiment with crayons at Montessori might be just the witty piece you need. Framed up the most humble images can be rendered beautiful.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

8. Go pale. Select sculptural pieces in a pale shade and set them against a pale wall for a modern white-on-white style.

Simple pound-shop buys can look all the money in this setting, but remember, for floral displays, that the vase will be high enough to make a statement on its own.

9. Play with height. In just the same way as you would compose a flower arrangement, juxtapose tall objects to the rear, with smaller pieces nestling at their base. By using taller pieces at the mantle ends, you suggest a frame for the central, wall-mounted pieces and draw attention to the mantle’s length.

Topiary trees and a large gilded mirror offer a serene glamorous finish to a stunning fire surround.

Fishing reels and antlers crowd one end of a mantelpiece in a low, one tone arrangement for a sculptural rustic group.

10. Shining examples. As the mantle is at a nice height for catching light and will enjoy light bouncing back from the fire, the classic additions of brass, silver, and above all glass, are ideal choices for a fresh, sophisticated arrangement. Irish glass is world class. Explore what is on offer from Jerpoint Glass, Duiske, and Tipperary Crystal in major retailers, or from a host of smaller studio glassmakers throughout the country.

DIYTIPS

How to create a citrus fruit and flower arrangement As most mantles are quite high, you can make a gorgeous feature out of what’s in the vase beneath the water. Pebbles, shells, attractive stems and citrus fruit can all make an attractive show. Here’s an easy one for bargain fruit. Ask your local grocer for some damaged or elderly ones (they might even be free!)

WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A net or two of lemons and oranges enough to fill your vase ■ A large deep clear or lightly tinted glass vase ■ Flowers in season. Tulips are ideal (use bold twiggy branches if you can’t stretch to fresh flowers)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Put one lemon and orange aside.

Trim your flowers to three heights in three groups.

Fill the vase about three quarters with whole fruit, wedging them in to keep the lemons in place when the water is added.

Cut slices from the reserved fruit and slide it down the inside sides of the vase here and there.

Top with water.

Thread your flowers through the whole fruit for support. The tallest at the centre the shorter out to the sides.

Place one or two whole fruits at the base of the vase on the mantle for added interest.

Q&A

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

Q. I have heard that a stove with a back-boiler will not throw out as much heat to the room as a stove without one. How can I be sure to balance heat output with boiler performance?

question, the living area would need a min. of a 6kW stove. It is often a good idea to buy a stove with a little extra output capacity, in this case, perhaps a 7 or 8 kW stove.

A. When investigating the type of stove you need to compare the heat output to the boiler and the heat output to the room, and choose a stove that has the correct output for the number of radiators and the correct output for the size of the room.

Q. My chimney breast feels hot when I use my fireplace. Is this a potential fire hazard?

Q. My chimney is smoking even after having the chimney swept. What should be done?

A. If it is a false chimney breast constructed from flammable materials, the answer could be yes. If your chimney breast is constructed from concrete using correct building practices, there is no need to be concerned.

■ Answers provided by Greg A. There can be different causes to a Chlodnicki of SHL Distributors Ltd smoking fireplace/stove. Usually the (chimney specialists) Kinsale Road fitting of a particular type of chimney Commercial Centre, Cork. Tel: 021 cowl, such as a spinning cowl or electric 4310999 cowl, will prevent this. Talking to specialist company such as ourselves will aid you in making the correct product choice.

Q. My living area is 15’ by 18’ with a 12’ ceiling. What output of wood burner do I need to keep the space warm?

A. 1kW will approx. heat 15 cubic metres of an average insulated room.

Using the dimensions from the

Stove with back boiler from SHL Distributors, Cork.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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DIY

DIY

MAKE MANTEL CENTRE OF ATTRACTION

TIPS FOR SELECTING AND ARRANGING MANTELPIECES: 1. Less is more (it really is). Crowded mantelpieces rarely succeed, unless you have the eye of a great decorator creating a deliberately cosy ganging of things. If you’re frustrated at not getting all your favourites out there, rotate your collection regularly.

2. Choose an odd number for groups.

One wonderful thing can stand alone, and three and five are great group numbers, and for standing pieces a variety of heights allows them all to be seen to be best advantage. For solid tradition, clock ‘garnitures’, with a central clock and two flanking candlesticks holders or supports, are widely available at auction.

What you place on a mantelpiece can add real presence to a focal point in the room, writes Kya deLongchamps

I

N terms of energy efficiency an open fireplace is a curiosity from the past. Gaping into a room from a wide snaking tunnel to the great outdoors, it directs around 70% of any heat generated by a fire straight up the chimney. The role of a real flame fire as a gathering point and primary comfort still holds our hearts, and we naturally look towards a fireplace, lit or not when entering a room. Closing off the opening in favour of a wood or multi-fuel stove with an insulated flu system is the sane alternative. It’s all about control. Still, in the majority of cases the surrounding fireplace and mantel survive, even if our gaze and the furniture arrangement now praise the television rather than the fireside.

A SINGULAR SHELF The mantel is in some cases a signature architectural feature topping magnificent pillared supports, and even at worst is a glorified shelf floating over a standard opening.

It’s generally high and quite wide, so give it the status it deserves by adding treasured pieces you can look at for long periods. If the breast is fading into the surrounding wall make it jump out by painting any recess at its sides a darker colour, or paint or paper the breast itself in an energising design.

If the area has no presence at all, think about installing a wider more impressive overmantel to turn an ordinary fireplace into a real feature.

Anything from a sleeper to a piece of driftwood or reclaimed mantel will do the job once it’s well supported level and sufficiently protected from the heat below.

You can use any stable object you like to decorate the area. Easy-to-clean surfaces are useful as they won’t harbour every spec of the dust generated by even the tightest stove. It’s worth remembering that tantalising articles may attract children to a high shelf overhanging a hot stove or fire.

Always detail a fireplace with an appropriate guard.

REFLECTED GLORY Once you’re have the wall colour sorted out, mirrors are a natural choice for mantels. They have not only multiple light but the muscular frames designed for this area have an unapologetic lookat-me line and decorative finish.

Traditional over-mantels stand on the fireplace, secured on the wall by flat

22

mounts, adding to the outline of the surround with a bold vertical thrust, ideal if the ceiling is pressing down in a cramped room.

A stunning period surround set in a high ceiling room can take a majestic overmantel as large as itself, and if you find a period piece leave a ghosted aging glass in place, it really is part of its charm and value.

If the character of the mantel and fireplace surround stand alone, take the mirror up the wall creating some sense of quiet separation. Use a large mirror that reasonably matches the width of the mantle edge to edge, and keep in mind what they reflect as this becomes a virtual ‘picture’. Mirrors like paintings are made to be looked into, so don’t hang it too high.

When you place things before the mirror, their impact is doubled, great for flowers dressing up an unlit fire surround. If you are using a smaller mirror, sconces, lighting or matching framed artwork on either side creates harmony, bringing the eye up from the side elements of the fireplace, and delivering a relationship.

3. Huddle up. Don’t be afraid to put the members of a group close together in a family of objects. Observers will come closer to examine them, and for small pieces this gives them greater status when viewed from a distance. You can choose a colour, type, texture or contrast to play with in the grouping.

4. Room to breathe. Individual pieces and groups need a framing of nothingness to be seen and to visually ‘breathe’. Let the wall colour bring them into relief.

5. Matches can be loose. When pairing up things for either end of the mantelpiece, experiment with a matching volume of things rather than a standard placement of two identical things. Higher or heavier at one end than the other can be lop-sided to the eye.

A simple opening and slender shelf is balanced by one great ceramic vase and widely splayed display of branches in a bold but relaxing tone on tone display. It really is that easy.

6. Avoid a parade at equal distances.

Placing small, similar ornaments, no matter how lovely, every four inches along a mantle or shelf is an interior decorator disaster. It’s too lineal, formal, uncomfortable and dull.

7. Found materials and naturals. A large glass jar makes a charming host for everything from pebbles to shells. Found materials, including driftwood, bare branches set in a vase, and flowers and cuttings culled form the garden, can set the season over the fireplace.

ARTFUL IDEAS Using symmetry for the hanging pieces, you can replace the mirror with a large piece of artwork in either a picture, wall hung textile or a shallow piece of sculpture. Again, balance the larger piece in the middle on either side, and edge to edge with the mantle below with loosely similar sizes and styles of hanging pieces for visual harmony.

Odd numbers, in this case three (the centrepiece is one and the two flanking making up three) or an implied group of three made up of smaller pieces, works best. We’ll see when adding, freestanding items on the shelf, that odd numbers are a favourite that generally satisfy the eye when placing ornaments.

You don’t have to hang the centre piece of artwork and can rest it casually on the mantelshelf, or even stack a couple of varying size of pictures or mirror on each other, allowing each to be sufficiently seen.

Ensure any unsecured frames are not likely to be tipped forward on a slender surface. When we say ‘artwork’, keep in mind that art is what you value and want to look at. A digital blow up of your child’s first experiment with crayons at Montessori might be just the witty piece you need. Framed up the most humble images can be rendered beautiful.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

8. Go pale. Select sculptural pieces in a pale shade and set them against a pale wall for a modern white-on-white style.

Simple pound-shop buys can look all the money in this setting, but remember, for floral displays, that the vase will be high enough to make a statement on its own.

9. Play with height. In just the same way as you would compose a flower arrangement, juxtapose tall objects to the rear, with smaller pieces nestling at their base. By using taller pieces at the mantle ends, you suggest a frame for the central, wall-mounted pieces and draw attention to the mantle’s length.

Topiary trees and a large gilded mirror offer a serene glamorous finish to a stunning fire surround.

Fishing reels and antlers crowd one end of a mantelpiece in a low, one tone arrangement for a sculptural rustic group.

10. Shining examples. As the mantle is at a nice height for catching light and will enjoy light bouncing back from the fire, the classic additions of brass, silver, and above all glass, are ideal choices for a fresh, sophisticated arrangement. Irish glass is world class. Explore what is on offer from Jerpoint Glass, Duiske, and Tipperary Crystal in major retailers, or from a host of smaller studio glassmakers throughout the country.

DIYTIPS

How to create a citrus fruit and flower arrangement As most mantles are quite high, you can make a gorgeous feature out of what’s in the vase beneath the water. Pebbles, shells, attractive stems and citrus fruit can all make an attractive show. Here’s an easy one for bargain fruit. Ask your local grocer for some damaged or elderly ones (they might even be free!)

WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A net or two of lemons and oranges enough to fill your vase ■ A large deep clear or lightly tinted glass vase ■ Flowers in season. Tulips are ideal (use bold twiggy branches if you can’t stretch to fresh flowers)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Put one lemon and orange aside.

Trim your flowers to three heights in three groups.

Fill the vase about three quarters with whole fruit, wedging them in to keep the lemons in place when the water is added.

Cut slices from the reserved fruit and slide it down the inside sides of the vase here and there.

Top with water.

Thread your flowers through the whole fruit for support. The tallest at the centre the shorter out to the sides.

Place one or two whole fruits at the base of the vase on the mantle for added interest.

Q&A

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

Q. I have heard that a stove with a back-boiler will not throw out as much heat to the room as a stove without one. How can I be sure to balance heat output with boiler performance?

question, the living area would need a min. of a 6kW stove. It is often a good idea to buy a stove with a little extra output capacity, in this case, perhaps a 7 or 8 kW stove.

A. When investigating the type of stove you need to compare the heat output to the boiler and the heat output to the room, and choose a stove that has the correct output for the number of radiators and the correct output for the size of the room.

Q. My chimney breast feels hot when I use my fireplace. Is this a potential fire hazard?

Q. My chimney is smoking even after having the chimney swept. What should be done?

A. If it is a false chimney breast constructed from flammable materials, the answer could be yes. If your chimney breast is constructed from concrete using correct building practices, there is no need to be concerned.

■ Answers provided by Greg A. There can be different causes to a Chlodnicki of SHL Distributors Ltd smoking fireplace/stove. Usually the (chimney specialists) Kinsale Road fitting of a particular type of chimney Commercial Centre, Cork. Tel: 021 cowl, such as a spinning cowl or electric 4310999 cowl, will prevent this. Talking to specialist company such as ourselves will aid you in making the correct product choice.

Q. My living area is 15’ by 18’ with a 12’ ceiling. What output of wood burner do I need to keep the space warm?

A. 1kW will approx. heat 15 cubic metres of an average insulated room.

Using the dimensions from the

Stove with back boiler from SHL Distributors, Cork.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

23

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WISH LIST Heading into spring and the season when weddings are prolific, do you fork out for a token gift, or something more substantial?

Carol O’Callaghan has a few ideas

Stainless steel and hard to clean wood used to be the only options for meat carving trays. Now Joseph Joseph's Cut & Carve Plus is scrubbable without too much effort involved and looks good in its aubergine finish (from €18.95 at Brown Thomas).

Trends of grey, hessian and patchwork are brought together in the LOVE cushion (from Meadows & Byrne €21.95).

Domestic gods and goddesses who like to grind fresh spices and pulverise herbs might welcome a mortar and pestle. This model features a spout, which doubles up as a rest for the pestle (from Debenhams, approx €25).

Changing a light shade in a room can make a huge impact on the atmosphere, so your newlyweds may welcome a fresh look.

Consider a strong colour mix to ring the changes (Red & Blue shade fron Next Interiors, €18).

Rugs are perfect for softening up our timber floors.

Natuzzi’s Radar combines the current vogue for grey with just a touch of pattern, so all the specks of wear and tear don’t show too much (€419, from Square Deal Interiors).

Our love of candles continues regardless of season. Check out the giant tinted glass version from Dunnes, perfect as the centre-piece on a coffee table (approx. €45).

Mugs are a welcome gift, but don’t buy flowery patterns if the recipients are into a modern look. Check out these versions, emblazoned with modern graphics, themes and shapes (approx. €7, from M&S).

Cork-based furniture-maker Denis Cotter’s latest piece is the Posa coffee table made from spalted Irish ash detailed in walnut — the latter spelling out the word ‘posa’ in Ogham, which means marriage in Irish (from www.alluafurnituredesign.ie, €700).

24

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

The Bog Standard Clover, Linen and Orchard Candle Set, €17.95 is a pretty candle collection encompassing the scents of the Irish landscape. Available at Kilkenny shops.

Large American style fridge freezers are the aspirational kitchen appliance but can take up a great deal of room. Try a more slimline alternative like the stainless steel model by Siemens (from Soundstore, JJ Dwyer Electrical, Kube and MD O'Sheas €1,139).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:13:01:38Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:24

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WISH LIST Heading into spring and the season when weddings are prolific, do you fork out for a token gift, or something more substantial?

Carol O’Callaghan has a few ideas

Stainless steel and hard to clean wood used to be the only options for meat carving trays. Now Joseph Joseph's Cut & Carve Plus is scrubbable without too much effort involved and looks good in its aubergine finish (from €18.95 at Brown Thomas).

Trends of grey, hessian and patchwork are brought together in the LOVE cushion (from Meadows & Byrne €21.95).

Domestic gods and goddesses who like to grind fresh spices and pulverise herbs might welcome a mortar and pestle. This model features a spout, which doubles up as a rest for the pestle (from Debenhams, approx €25).

Changing a light shade in a room can make a huge impact on the atmosphere, so your newlyweds may welcome a fresh look.

Consider a strong colour mix to ring the changes (Red & Blue shade fron Next Interiors, €18).

Rugs are perfect for softening up our timber floors.

Natuzzi’s Radar combines the current vogue for grey with just a touch of pattern, so all the specks of wear and tear don’t show too much (€419, from Square Deal Interiors).

Our love of candles continues regardless of season. Check out the giant tinted glass version from Dunnes, perfect as the centre-piece on a coffee table (approx. €45).

Mugs are a welcome gift, but don’t buy flowery patterns if the recipients are into a modern look. Check out these versions, emblazoned with modern graphics, themes and shapes (approx. €7, from M&S).

Cork-based furniture-maker Denis Cotter’s latest piece is the Posa coffee table made from spalted Irish ash detailed in walnut — the latter spelling out the word ‘posa’ in Ogham, which means marriage in Irish (from www.alluafurnituredesign.ie, €700).

24

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

The Bog Standard Clover, Linen and Orchard Candle Set, €17.95 is a pretty candle collection encompassing the scents of the Irish landscape. Available at Kilkenny shops.

Large American style fridge freezers are the aspirational kitchen appliance but can take up a great deal of room. Try a more slimline alternative like the stainless steel model by Siemens (from Soundstore, JJ Dwyer Electrical, Kube and MD O'Sheas €1,139).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

I’m deciding on flooring for my new home, but with so many options how do I decide?

A. Flooring is usually the first thing people notice in a room and sets the mood of the space. The first thing that you should keep in mind is functionality — for example, wooden flooring may suit a bedroom but not a bathroom. Next, consider the style of your home and room and which flooring will best complement this. Natural materials, such as wool carpet, will give the room a homely feel, whereas manmade ones such as resin will give it a modern edge.

Maintenance is another important factor when choosing your flooring.

For the time poor, low-maintenance stone tiles or pre-sealed wooden floors may be a good choice. Whatever you choose, always go to a reputable flooring specialist and don’t rush the decision — because if you make the wrong one, you may have to live with it for years!

Q. My wife wants to get solid timber flooring for our living room, but I think laminate would be better — who’s right?

A. Both of you are! Generally, solid timber flooring looks more beautiful and with proper care can last a lifetime.

Hard-wearing washed oak or ash engineered wood flooring is very on trend right now. And if it does get damaged, solid timber is easier to repair or refinish than laminate. On the other hand, laminate flooring is more scratch, stain, fade and moisture

1

There is a new guru in town to help you shop for gifts for your loved ones. Giftguru.ie is based in Cork and is recently open for business. It was set up by Mary Leahy & Oonagh Levis who have many years experience in the gift market, being the owners of Town & Country Hampers. It offers gifts for all occasions, from birthdays to new babies, and offers a complementary wrapping service and free delivery for orders over €50. For Joseph Joseph kitchen stock, garden delights or an eclectic mix of cards look no further for your gift needs.

■ www.giftguru.ie

26

T

Q. I’m sick of the carpet on my stairs — any ideas?

A. From tartan to animal print, carpets have been deliciously reinvented in recent years — and your stairway is the perfect place to make a statement.

Stripes are big for stairs this spring — think bold raspberry and lime green or orange and mud brown. When replacing the carpet on your stairs, accurate measurements are key — you can find out how to do this yourself on www.diytoday.net — or your carpet store will be happy to help. Carpet can be installed using either the waterfall method, where a single piece of carpet is used to cover the stairs from top to bottom, or the cap and band method, individually cut and fastened on each step. Take a look at the creative carpets

by Crucial Trading available from GO’C Carpets (01- 8601845).

Q. What type of tiles do you recommend for my bathroom?

A. Tiles are a no-brainer for the bathroom, but large or small, ceramic or glass, plain or patterned, deciding which ones isn’t quite as simple. Durable, easy to clean and readily available, ceramic tiles are the most popular. But porcelain or marble mosaics are my personal

2

Right: Carpeted stairs idea. Left: Stair carpet by GO'C Carpets, €38.99 per yard — 01- 8601845. Below: Solid Timber Flooring by Garolagh Solid Timber Flooring, Co Louth — www.garrolaghwoodfloors.com

favourite. Some advantages of mosaic tiles are that they are suitable for both walls and floors, non-slip and can be used to create your own design.

Scattered mosaics are big news for bathrooms in 2012 — such as a black feature wall with scattered silver or grey pieces.

Cut down on cost by focusing on wet areas such as the floor and shower, rather than the entire bathroom. TileStyle in Dublin have an amazing range of mosaics.

See www.tilestyle.ie.

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

My Deco

3

Sweetpea and Willow

This is a slick website with some gorgeous products. It is divided into products and designers so is easy to find your way around. Categories can be broken down into price, colour, size, delivery time, material and styles.

“We believe that being a little bit braver with your home will make you smile every time you walk through the front door”, is a part of their ‘manifesto’ on their site and who can argue with that. It also has a handy design tool on its site to allow you to revamp your home in realistic 3D for free.

Our colleagues across the water have now a dedicated Irish branch for us here in the Emerald Isle. And the site is as pretty as its name.

Specialising in French Furniture, this will breathe a gorgeous European life into any room. Think chaise longues, hand carved mirrors, and fabulous upholstered chairs. It caters for those looking for bedrooms for little princesses, French chabby chic look and a Provençal Garden twist. It also has an opulent antique section and a garden furniture category worth a peek.

■ www.mydeco.com

■ www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Doing the dirty deed There is no way around the septic tank charge so you may as well find out where yours is located, says Kya deLongchamps

resistant than the real deal — so is perfect for high traffic areas like the living room. From bamboo to beech, laminate has also come on so much in recent years that it’s often hard to tell the difference. Both types of flooring have their pluses and minuses — ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

WEB WATCH Gift Guru

This week interior designer Aisling O’Toole, otooleaisling@gmail.com, answers all your flooring queries. Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Scrambling for car tax forms and vehicle registration certs could be a thing of the past with this neat little folder to keep all your files safe. From the www.giftguru.ie. €15.95.

he European Court of Justice ruled in 2009 that Ireland had broken the EU waste directive for failing to enact legislation to deal with domestic waste water from septic tanks and other treatment systems. We were in the pipeline for some stinking multimillion-euro fines per day for non-compliance, so moves have been afoot since last year to clean up our act and flush out the troublemakers poisoning our groundwater and waterways.

The Water Services (Amendment) Bill comes into force at the end of this month.

If you don’t know where your tank is or how it’s performing, it’s time to show even a mild interest, as every unit in Ireland is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year. The first thing to do is to get registered.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, has announced that the proposed and widely condemned registration charge of €50 has been reduced to just €5 per unit.

There are conditions. When the registration system comes into place on Mar 31, home owners must volunteer their details by Jun 30 to avail of the early-bird fee. If you leave it too late, the €50 charge comes into play. Incentive indeed for the 418,000 households using a private sewage system.

Everyone with a tank is required to register their tank

by March of 2013 and not registering at all could result in a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Mr Hogan has said there will be ‘financial aid’ where needed to bring faulty septic systems into line. No further details were given on the amounts that could be made available, but the minister made it clear

Every septic tank is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year.

that in most cases, clearing out the tank is expected to resolve the problems associated with a faulty performance which could potentially pollute groundwater.

Local authority staff already employed will carry out the inspections after a period of appropriate training with the Environmental Protection Agency. It appears that tanks ringing an area will be inspected if groundwater is regarded as at risk of pollution, rather than every single tank in Ireland being looked at.

If you are requested to comply with an inspection, do you know where your tank is or how to lift the cover?

I will admit having only occasionally peered down a couple of mysterious pipes jutting from the bowels of my recently constructed tank with a poke of a torch. It’s heavily grown over, fenced off in the centre of a very woolly paddock, calmly, consistently and silently swallowing our waste. In truth, we should all inspect our own tanks at the very least every couple of years.

If you have a map of the property, the tank and soakaway should be on there, but if you are not sure where it is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. If it’s an untended, older tank, be careful that the ground below you is stable, as livestock, ground movement and machinery passing over an unprotected tank may have made it structurally unsound.

What is a septic tank exactly? Well, it’s basically a settlement container divided in two by baffles (to prevent surges when in use), in which your waste water from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom is separated by simple gravity.

There is a solid sludge at the bottom, an oily scum on the top and a relatively clear liquid caught between the two more viscous layers.

In modern sophisticated systems the liquid is treated before discharge and is clean enough to feed decorative ponds and marsh beds. In a classic old-style tank, it is run out untreated into an attached drainage area called a soakaway directly from the tank.

You should know where your soakaway area is and if you find your tank is discharging

How to keep your septic tank healthy

Y

A excavator installs a septic tank. If you are not sure where your septic tank is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. Picture: Jupiter Images

straight into a watercourse or open ditch, it needs to be inspected by a professional immediately.

If the soakaway is not designed properly liquid including rainwater can back up into the septic tank.

Your tank should also be inspected if there are foul smells, ponding of any liquid in the drainage area or blockages you can’t move yourself with a simple rodding procedure of what is termed ‘gross solids’.

If the tank is clearly not separating and digesting waste, the biological balance in the tank may be impaired by a deluge of chemicals and household waste, and dropping

a dead rat down there is unlikely to get things moving again. Pumping will clear the system and remove the developing lake of solids which can back up and poison the surrounding environment.

Details of the nationwide registration of septic systems will be announced shortly.

Check your national and local press for further details or call your local authority for registration information.

Pumping costs will vary according to your location but start at around €220 for a standard job by a local firm.

An appeal system is in place for re-inspection by the home owner, at a cost not to exceed €200.

our septic system is a well balanced biological ingesting ‘machine’ and you need to feed it with some care.

You should consider the type and source of the waste going into the system and the amount of watery fluid passing through it day to day.

Never put paint or any chemistry down the drains to your sewerage system and go easy on bleach products.

These can upset the ecosystem needed for the tank to perform well.

Low phosphate household products marked ‘suitable for septic tanks’ are ideal, and where possible use alternative green solutions, such as lemon juice and plain boiled water to clean and clear blockages of sink traps.

Put a strainer on your kitchen sink drain hole to prevent odds and sods going down the pipes and strain off grease and oils and put them in the household rubbish.

Waste disposal units in kitchens and using a lot of water day-to-day puts extra pressure on the system.

Your tank should not be taking in the rainwater from the roof or driveway gutters, as the balance of intake and output are critical to its working success.

An undersized tank will not be able to cope with an significant increase in the household as extra flushes of the toilet, more baths, laundry and kitchen activity become overwhelming.

Consult a professional, and before any pumping out, ensure they have a current Waste Collection Permit for your county.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

I’m deciding on flooring for my new home, but with so many options how do I decide?

A. Flooring is usually the first thing people notice in a room and sets the mood of the space. The first thing that you should keep in mind is functionality — for example, wooden flooring may suit a bedroom but not a bathroom. Next, consider the style of your home and room and which flooring will best complement this. Natural materials, such as wool carpet, will give the room a homely feel, whereas manmade ones such as resin will give it a modern edge.

Maintenance is another important factor when choosing your flooring.

For the time poor, low-maintenance stone tiles or pre-sealed wooden floors may be a good choice. Whatever you choose, always go to a reputable flooring specialist and don’t rush the decision — because if you make the wrong one, you may have to live with it for years!

Q. My wife wants to get solid timber flooring for our living room, but I think laminate would be better — who’s right?

A. Both of you are! Generally, solid timber flooring looks more beautiful and with proper care can last a lifetime.

Hard-wearing washed oak or ash engineered wood flooring is very on trend right now. And if it does get damaged, solid timber is easier to repair or refinish than laminate. On the other hand, laminate flooring is more scratch, stain, fade and moisture

1

There is a new guru in town to help you shop for gifts for your loved ones. Giftguru.ie is based in Cork and is recently open for business. It was set up by Mary Leahy & Oonagh Levis who have many years experience in the gift market, being the owners of Town & Country Hampers. It offers gifts for all occasions, from birthdays to new babies, and offers a complementary wrapping service and free delivery for orders over €50. For Joseph Joseph kitchen stock, garden delights or an eclectic mix of cards look no further for your gift needs.

■ www.giftguru.ie

26

T

Q. I’m sick of the carpet on my stairs — any ideas?

A. From tartan to animal print, carpets have been deliciously reinvented in recent years — and your stairway is the perfect place to make a statement.

Stripes are big for stairs this spring — think bold raspberry and lime green or orange and mud brown. When replacing the carpet on your stairs, accurate measurements are key — you can find out how to do this yourself on www.diytoday.net — or your carpet store will be happy to help. Carpet can be installed using either the waterfall method, where a single piece of carpet is used to cover the stairs from top to bottom, or the cap and band method, individually cut and fastened on each step. Take a look at the creative carpets

by Crucial Trading available from GO’C Carpets (01- 8601845).

Q. What type of tiles do you recommend for my bathroom?

A. Tiles are a no-brainer for the bathroom, but large or small, ceramic or glass, plain or patterned, deciding which ones isn’t quite as simple. Durable, easy to clean and readily available, ceramic tiles are the most popular. But porcelain or marble mosaics are my personal

2

Right: Carpeted stairs idea. Left: Stair carpet by GO'C Carpets, €38.99 per yard — 01- 8601845. Below: Solid Timber Flooring by Garolagh Solid Timber Flooring, Co Louth — www.garrolaghwoodfloors.com

favourite. Some advantages of mosaic tiles are that they are suitable for both walls and floors, non-slip and can be used to create your own design.

Scattered mosaics are big news for bathrooms in 2012 — such as a black feature wall with scattered silver or grey pieces.

Cut down on cost by focusing on wet areas such as the floor and shower, rather than the entire bathroom. TileStyle in Dublin have an amazing range of mosaics.

See www.tilestyle.ie.

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

My Deco

3

Sweetpea and Willow

This is a slick website with some gorgeous products. It is divided into products and designers so is easy to find your way around. Categories can be broken down into price, colour, size, delivery time, material and styles.

“We believe that being a little bit braver with your home will make you smile every time you walk through the front door”, is a part of their ‘manifesto’ on their site and who can argue with that. It also has a handy design tool on its site to allow you to revamp your home in realistic 3D for free.

Our colleagues across the water have now a dedicated Irish branch for us here in the Emerald Isle. And the site is as pretty as its name.

Specialising in French Furniture, this will breathe a gorgeous European life into any room. Think chaise longues, hand carved mirrors, and fabulous upholstered chairs. It caters for those looking for bedrooms for little princesses, French chabby chic look and a Provençal Garden twist. It also has an opulent antique section and a garden furniture category worth a peek.

■ www.mydeco.com

■ www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Doing the dirty deed There is no way around the septic tank charge so you may as well find out where yours is located, says Kya deLongchamps

resistant than the real deal — so is perfect for high traffic areas like the living room. From bamboo to beech, laminate has also come on so much in recent years that it’s often hard to tell the difference. Both types of flooring have their pluses and minuses — ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

WEB WATCH Gift Guru

This week interior designer Aisling O’Toole, otooleaisling@gmail.com, answers all your flooring queries. Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Scrambling for car tax forms and vehicle registration certs could be a thing of the past with this neat little folder to keep all your files safe. From the www.giftguru.ie. €15.95.

he European Court of Justice ruled in 2009 that Ireland had broken the EU waste directive for failing to enact legislation to deal with domestic waste water from septic tanks and other treatment systems. We were in the pipeline for some stinking multimillion-euro fines per day for non-compliance, so moves have been afoot since last year to clean up our act and flush out the troublemakers poisoning our groundwater and waterways.

The Water Services (Amendment) Bill comes into force at the end of this month.

If you don’t know where your tank is or how it’s performing, it’s time to show even a mild interest, as every unit in Ireland is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year. The first thing to do is to get registered.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, has announced that the proposed and widely condemned registration charge of €50 has been reduced to just €5 per unit.

There are conditions. When the registration system comes into place on Mar 31, home owners must volunteer their details by Jun 30 to avail of the early-bird fee. If you leave it too late, the €50 charge comes into play. Incentive indeed for the 418,000 households using a private sewage system.

Everyone with a tank is required to register their tank

by March of 2013 and not registering at all could result in a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Mr Hogan has said there will be ‘financial aid’ where needed to bring faulty septic systems into line. No further details were given on the amounts that could be made available, but the minister made it clear

Every septic tank is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year.

that in most cases, clearing out the tank is expected to resolve the problems associated with a faulty performance which could potentially pollute groundwater.

Local authority staff already employed will carry out the inspections after a period of appropriate training with the Environmental Protection Agency. It appears that tanks ringing an area will be inspected if groundwater is regarded as at risk of pollution, rather than every single tank in Ireland being looked at.

If you are requested to comply with an inspection, do you know where your tank is or how to lift the cover?

I will admit having only occasionally peered down a couple of mysterious pipes jutting from the bowels of my recently constructed tank with a poke of a torch. It’s heavily grown over, fenced off in the centre of a very woolly paddock, calmly, consistently and silently swallowing our waste. In truth, we should all inspect our own tanks at the very least every couple of years.

If you have a map of the property, the tank and soakaway should be on there, but if you are not sure where it is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. If it’s an untended, older tank, be careful that the ground below you is stable, as livestock, ground movement and machinery passing over an unprotected tank may have made it structurally unsound.

What is a septic tank exactly? Well, it’s basically a settlement container divided in two by baffles (to prevent surges when in use), in which your waste water from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom is separated by simple gravity.

There is a solid sludge at the bottom, an oily scum on the top and a relatively clear liquid caught between the two more viscous layers.

In modern sophisticated systems the liquid is treated before discharge and is clean enough to feed decorative ponds and marsh beds. In a classic old-style tank, it is run out untreated into an attached drainage area called a soakaway directly from the tank.

You should know where your soakaway area is and if you find your tank is discharging

How to keep your septic tank healthy

Y

A excavator installs a septic tank. If you are not sure where your septic tank is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. Picture: Jupiter Images

straight into a watercourse or open ditch, it needs to be inspected by a professional immediately.

If the soakaway is not designed properly liquid including rainwater can back up into the septic tank.

Your tank should also be inspected if there are foul smells, ponding of any liquid in the drainage area or blockages you can’t move yourself with a simple rodding procedure of what is termed ‘gross solids’.

If the tank is clearly not separating and digesting waste, the biological balance in the tank may be impaired by a deluge of chemicals and household waste, and dropping

a dead rat down there is unlikely to get things moving again. Pumping will clear the system and remove the developing lake of solids which can back up and poison the surrounding environment.

Details of the nationwide registration of septic systems will be announced shortly.

Check your national and local press for further details or call your local authority for registration information.

Pumping costs will vary according to your location but start at around €220 for a standard job by a local firm.

An appeal system is in place for re-inspection by the home owner, at a cost not to exceed €200.

our septic system is a well balanced biological ingesting ‘machine’ and you need to feed it with some care.

You should consider the type and source of the waste going into the system and the amount of watery fluid passing through it day to day.

Never put paint or any chemistry down the drains to your sewerage system and go easy on bleach products.

These can upset the ecosystem needed for the tank to perform well.

Low phosphate household products marked ‘suitable for septic tanks’ are ideal, and where possible use alternative green solutions, such as lemon juice and plain boiled water to clean and clear blockages of sink traps.

Put a strainer on your kitchen sink drain hole to prevent odds and sods going down the pipes and strain off grease and oils and put them in the household rubbish.

Waste disposal units in kitchens and using a lot of water day-to-day puts extra pressure on the system.

Your tank should not be taking in the rainwater from the roof or driveway gutters, as the balance of intake and output are critical to its working success.

An undersized tank will not be able to cope with an significant increase in the household as extra flushes of the toilet, more baths, laundry and kitchen activity become overwhelming.

Consult a professional, and before any pumping out, ensure they have a current Waste Collection Permit for your county.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES

A week of big sales for buyers

IN BRIEF

There are three major auctions coming up in the next few days, writes Des O’Sullivan

W

ITH sales at Woodwards, Lynes and Lynes and Marshs Cork, auction goers will be spoiled for choice next week.

The Woodwards sale of antiques, silver and art next Wednesday at 6pm includes a significant and affordable silver section.

The most expensively estimated silver lot is an Irish silver bowl for a dish ring made in Dublin in 1898 and pierced with Oriental figures, birds, buildings, flowers and scrolls. It is estimated at €1,700-€2,200.

The sale includes two silver dish or potato rings, each estimated at

up to €2,000. A set of three George III silver tablespoons with berry bowls made by William Ward of Limerick in 1802 is estimated at €900 to €1,200, as is a Cork silver milk jug bearing Dublin hallmarks for 1831.

Viewing is from 2pm to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm

next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Furniture at Woodwards includes a Georgian sideboard (€800€1,200), a rosewood centre table (€900-€1,200), six mahogany dining chairs (€750-€1,000), a circular satinwood centre table (€800-€1,200), a Regency walnut

davenport (€500-€800), a Regency serving table (€800-€1,200) and a Regency wine cooler (€600-€800).

Artists whose work will feature in the sale include Gretta O’Brien, William Harrington, Terence Attridge Williams, Anne Madden and George Pennefather.

Ships manifest documents Cork’s butter exports

T

HE Cork Butter Exchange was the largest butter market in the world and the city retains a Butter Museum in Shandon to this day.

Butter was exported in large quantities from the city. An important piece of maritime memorabilia from this industrial past features at the Marshs sale in Cork next Saturday at noon.

There is a historic ship’s manifest, framed and dated August 17, 1785.

It contains details of the export of about 50 firkins of new loose butter “in good order and condition”. It was shipped by William Crawford of Cork to

London on a vessel called the Thomas, which was anchored in the river of Cork. The manifest is signed by both William Crawford and Sam Seldon, skipper and master of the Thomas.

The freight charge was 25 shillings.

The sale includes a Georgian glazed breakfront four-door bookcase (€4,000-€5,000) a Regency satinwood bow fronted side cabinet (€4,000-€4,500) and a Georgian giltwood mirror (€2,000-€2,500).

Among the other collectible items is a whimsical poster about pony and donkey races to be run around the Lough in Cork city of February

27, 1898. The advertised donkey and pony races featured numerous humorously named runners and riders. The event, with curious collection of prizes, is believed to have been a hoax.

The sale features a large selection of porcelain and clocks, plus books from a private library at Monkstown, Cork.

Other furniture on offer includes a French ormolu mounted vitrine, a pair of French marble top commodes, a French marble topped side cabinet and a mahogany Chippendale style corner cabinet. Viewing is from next Thursday.

1835

Above: A pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes. Below right: a French ormolu mounted vitrine will be included in Marsh’s auction next Saturday. The Morris putter owned and used by Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris at Christie’s golf sale in London on May 30.

2012

SATURDAY NEXT ANTIQUE AUCTION OF GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN FURNITURE Including Porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Oil Lamps, Table Lamps, Clocks, Quality Mirrors, Paintings and Prints, Large Collection of Books and Records

AT OUR AUCTION ROOMS AT ROCHFORDS LANE Off South Mall/Grand Parade, Cork.

ON SATURDAY NEXT, 10TH MARCH, AT 12 NOON Briefly: Regency Satinwood and inlaid bow fronted Side Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany breakfront four door glazed Secretaire Bookcase, Georgian Mahogany Chippendale Style Corner Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany Inlaid Writing Bureau and other Bureaus, Georgian Mahogany Sideboards, Collection of Mahogany, Georgian and Victorian Bookcases, Georgian Giltwood Overmantel and other gilt Overmantels, Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Georgian Mahogany Linen Press and Wardrobes, French Ormolu mounted Vitrine, Pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes, French inlaid Marquetry ormolu mounted marble topped Side Cabinet, Mahogany and Oak Diningroom Tables, Set of 12, 6 and 4 Mahogany Diningroom Chairs, Occasional Chairs, Easy Chairs, Mahogany Chiffoniers, Large Circular Drawingroom Table (8ft. in diameter), Two Flintlock Antique Pistols.

Large selection of porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Pewter, Oil Lamps, Wall and Mantel Clocks, Oil Paintings, Watercolours, Prints, Chandeliers, and other interesting items.

An interesting Poster of “The Lough Races”, in Cork, dated February, 1898, also framed Bill of Lading of Mr. Wm Crawford, dated 1785, exporting 50 firkins of Butter from Cork Butter Market on the Ship “Thomas”.

Large interesting collection of Books (contents of private Library) including Books by Daniel Corkery, Gavin Duffy, Canon Sheehan, Justin McCarthy MP, G. K. Chesterson, H. Belloc, and other well known Authors

ON VIEW: THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NEXT 8TH AND 9TH MARCH, FROM 10.30 A.M. TO 9.00 P.M. INCLUDING LUNCHTIME AND MORNING OF SALE FROM 10.00 A.M.

More details on www.marshsauctioneers.ie

Marshs Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, 17 South Mall, Cork. Tel 021-4270347 AUCTIONEERING IN CORK FOR 177 YEARS.

28

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

THE MUNSTER ANTIQUE & ART FAIR SUNDAY 11th MARCH MORAN’S SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL 11am - 6pm This is our biggest Fair in Cork in many years. Including in our 32 stands are 10 members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association.

Further details on the Irish Examiner Antique & Fine Art page on Saturday 10th or from robinodon@gmail.com.

THIS IS A HIBERNIAN ANTIQUE FAIRS.

1,300 LOTS Sheppards will offer more than 1,300 lots at three days of sale in Durrow, Co Laois next week. Around 500 lots will be offered at the period furniture sale on Tuesday at 10.30am. On Wednesday lots 501 to 1099 will be offered in a furniture and fine art sale.

The sale on Thursday at 2.30pm will focus on Asian art. .................................................................

WAR MEDAL There will be a sale of 600 lots at O’Donovan & Associates, North Quay, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, next Saturday at 11am. The sale will feature a collection of Waterford Crystal, art, furniture, gold, silver and collectibles including a 1919-21 War of Independence medal with ribbon issued to an unknown recipient in the west Limerick area. .................................................................

ARTWORK SALE The Daniel Corkery artwork featured on this page last week made €520 at the Cork Auction Rooms sale on Sunday. A Michael Collins commemorative plate made €360 and a musket from Castle Bernard, Bandon, sold for €580. .................................................................

OLDCASTLE AUCTION Matthews of Oldcastle will have a sale on the premises auction at Castlecor House, Oldcastle, Co Meath, on March 11 at 1.30pm. .................................................................

GOLF COLLECTION Christie’s will offer the world’s most important private collection of golf art and memorabilia in London on May 30. The 400-lot collection of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of Valderrama Golf Club in Spain is expected to bring in more than £2m. The most expensively estimated lot is Sir John Lavery’s 1920’s painting of The Golf Course at North Berwick (£200,000-£300,000). There are golf clubs and balls used by players including Allan Robertson and Willie Park Snr. .................................................................

LISMORE CASTLE ARTS The main exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts this year is the first solo show in Ireland by Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn.

Staged in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth and Kesselhaus Josephsohn, the exhibition runs from May 12 to Sep 30.

Georgian antiques top items

T

he Lynes and Lynes sale at East Link Business Park, Carrigtwohill next Saturday at noon features a Cork Georgian linen press and a Georgian dining table among 250 lots. There are several antique Cork side tables with estimates from €400-€1,000, chests of drawers, a bedroom suite by Waring and Gillows and a 19th century brass bound military chest. An Irish Regency library chair is estimated at €3,000-€4,000.

The auction features a gilt overmantel mirror.

Silver includes a William Egan Cork salver with the 1966 Jubilee mark. There is a pair of blue and white Chinese vases with lids, Waterford and other glassware, paintings, watercolours and prints. A George III carved marble fireplace tablet is estimated at €1,500-€2,000. Among the books is The Scenery and Character of Cork illustrated by Gladys Leach and three works by Robert Gibbings.

Viewing is from 10am to 7.30pm next Thursday and Friday and on the morning of the sale.

Above: A Irish Georgian linen press is estimated at €1,000-€1,500.

Right: A 19th century military chest It is estimated at €200-€300.

Both are in the Lynes and Lynes auction in Carrigtwohill next Saturday, Mar 10 at 12 noon.

A 1919-21 War of Independence Medal at O’Donovan’s sale in Newcastlewest on Mar 10. It is estimated at €300-€400.

AUCTION OF ANTIQUES, FINE ART, FURNITURE & EFFECTS, ETC Including contents removed from Bishopstown and Ballincollig, on the instructions of executors and clients.

Wednesday next, March 7th at 6pm

SHEPPARD’S Irish Auction House

LYNES & LYNES

AUCTION

Next Saturday 10th March at 12 noon.

Good Cork House Contents Removed To Our Auction Rooms

PARADIGMS AND THE UNEXPECTED Important three-day sale of 1,320 lots to include items from: Powerscourt House, Viceregal Lodge, Castle Durrow, Kennedy Collection Conn.

USA, Kilcoran House, Sommerville Lodge, Dromoland Castle Durrow is located 90 minutes NE of Cork City: M8 (N), at J3 take R433 (R434) to Durrow

VIEWING

Geo table

Card Table

Gretta O’Brien painting

Irish Silver Dish Ring

Featuring 3 house contents, including Furniture & Effects, Antiques, Collectibles, Paintings, Clocks, Porcelain, Crystal glassware, Statues, etc.

Very good selection of Silver.

Full catalogue and details at www.woodward.ie

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 5pm FREE BIDDING SERVICE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND AUCTION JOSEPH

2:00–6:00pm Saturday: 3 March Sunday: 4 March Monday: 5 March

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

Antique dining, drawing room and bedroom furniture, Waterford glass, china, books, paintings, silver and garden furniture.

Viewing this Thursday and Friday 10am-7.30pm. Also morning of auction at our Auction Rooms: Eastlink Business Park,

Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Tel: 021/4389998; 087/2531580 www.lynesandlynes.com

SALE-DAYS Tuesday: 6 March Wednesday: 7 March Thursday: 8 March ORDER CATALOGUE

www.sheppards.ie e-CATALOGUE Free & fully searchable PROXY & PHONE BIDDER

www.sheppards.ie

Lot 320: Photograph by Chancellor of Dublin, Unidentifed Viceregal pageboys

Bid Live via: www.sheppards.ie

D u r ro w • L a o i s Te l : 0 5 7 8 7 4 0 0 0 0 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES

A week of big sales for buyers

IN BRIEF

There are three major auctions coming up in the next few days, writes Des O’Sullivan

W

ITH sales at Woodwards, Lynes and Lynes and Marshs Cork, auction goers will be spoiled for choice next week.

The Woodwards sale of antiques, silver and art next Wednesday at 6pm includes a significant and affordable silver section.

The most expensively estimated silver lot is an Irish silver bowl for a dish ring made in Dublin in 1898 and pierced with Oriental figures, birds, buildings, flowers and scrolls. It is estimated at €1,700-€2,200.

The sale includes two silver dish or potato rings, each estimated at

up to €2,000. A set of three George III silver tablespoons with berry bowls made by William Ward of Limerick in 1802 is estimated at €900 to €1,200, as is a Cork silver milk jug bearing Dublin hallmarks for 1831.

Viewing is from 2pm to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm

next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Furniture at Woodwards includes a Georgian sideboard (€800€1,200), a rosewood centre table (€900-€1,200), six mahogany dining chairs (€750-€1,000), a circular satinwood centre table (€800-€1,200), a Regency walnut

davenport (€500-€800), a Regency serving table (€800-€1,200) and a Regency wine cooler (€600-€800).

Artists whose work will feature in the sale include Gretta O’Brien, William Harrington, Terence Attridge Williams, Anne Madden and George Pennefather.

Ships manifest documents Cork’s butter exports

T

HE Cork Butter Exchange was the largest butter market in the world and the city retains a Butter Museum in Shandon to this day.

Butter was exported in large quantities from the city. An important piece of maritime memorabilia from this industrial past features at the Marshs sale in Cork next Saturday at noon.

There is a historic ship’s manifest, framed and dated August 17, 1785.

It contains details of the export of about 50 firkins of new loose butter “in good order and condition”. It was shipped by William Crawford of Cork to

London on a vessel called the Thomas, which was anchored in the river of Cork. The manifest is signed by both William Crawford and Sam Seldon, skipper and master of the Thomas.

The freight charge was 25 shillings.

The sale includes a Georgian glazed breakfront four-door bookcase (€4,000-€5,000) a Regency satinwood bow fronted side cabinet (€4,000-€4,500) and a Georgian giltwood mirror (€2,000-€2,500).

Among the other collectible items is a whimsical poster about pony and donkey races to be run around the Lough in Cork city of February

27, 1898. The advertised donkey and pony races featured numerous humorously named runners and riders. The event, with curious collection of prizes, is believed to have been a hoax.

The sale features a large selection of porcelain and clocks, plus books from a private library at Monkstown, Cork.

Other furniture on offer includes a French ormolu mounted vitrine, a pair of French marble top commodes, a French marble topped side cabinet and a mahogany Chippendale style corner cabinet. Viewing is from next Thursday.

1835

Above: A pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes. Below right: a French ormolu mounted vitrine will be included in Marsh’s auction next Saturday. The Morris putter owned and used by Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris at Christie’s golf sale in London on May 30.

2012

SATURDAY NEXT ANTIQUE AUCTION OF GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN FURNITURE Including Porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Oil Lamps, Table Lamps, Clocks, Quality Mirrors, Paintings and Prints, Large Collection of Books and Records

AT OUR AUCTION ROOMS AT ROCHFORDS LANE Off South Mall/Grand Parade, Cork.

ON SATURDAY NEXT, 10TH MARCH, AT 12 NOON Briefly: Regency Satinwood and inlaid bow fronted Side Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany breakfront four door glazed Secretaire Bookcase, Georgian Mahogany Chippendale Style Corner Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany Inlaid Writing Bureau and other Bureaus, Georgian Mahogany Sideboards, Collection of Mahogany, Georgian and Victorian Bookcases, Georgian Giltwood Overmantel and other gilt Overmantels, Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Georgian Mahogany Linen Press and Wardrobes, French Ormolu mounted Vitrine, Pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes, French inlaid Marquetry ormolu mounted marble topped Side Cabinet, Mahogany and Oak Diningroom Tables, Set of 12, 6 and 4 Mahogany Diningroom Chairs, Occasional Chairs, Easy Chairs, Mahogany Chiffoniers, Large Circular Drawingroom Table (8ft. in diameter), Two Flintlock Antique Pistols.

Large selection of porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Pewter, Oil Lamps, Wall and Mantel Clocks, Oil Paintings, Watercolours, Prints, Chandeliers, and other interesting items.

An interesting Poster of “The Lough Races”, in Cork, dated February, 1898, also framed Bill of Lading of Mr. Wm Crawford, dated 1785, exporting 50 firkins of Butter from Cork Butter Market on the Ship “Thomas”.

Large interesting collection of Books (contents of private Library) including Books by Daniel Corkery, Gavin Duffy, Canon Sheehan, Justin McCarthy MP, G. K. Chesterson, H. Belloc, and other well known Authors

ON VIEW: THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NEXT 8TH AND 9TH MARCH, FROM 10.30 A.M. TO 9.00 P.M. INCLUDING LUNCHTIME AND MORNING OF SALE FROM 10.00 A.M.

More details on www.marshsauctioneers.ie

Marshs Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, 17 South Mall, Cork. Tel 021-4270347 AUCTIONEERING IN CORK FOR 177 YEARS.

28

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

THE MUNSTER ANTIQUE & ART FAIR SUNDAY 11th MARCH MORAN’S SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL 11am - 6pm This is our biggest Fair in Cork in many years. Including in our 32 stands are 10 members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association.

Further details on the Irish Examiner Antique & Fine Art page on Saturday 10th or from robinodon@gmail.com.

THIS IS A HIBERNIAN ANTIQUE FAIRS.

1,300 LOTS Sheppards will offer more than 1,300 lots at three days of sale in Durrow, Co Laois next week. Around 500 lots will be offered at the period furniture sale on Tuesday at 10.30am. On Wednesday lots 501 to 1099 will be offered in a furniture and fine art sale.

The sale on Thursday at 2.30pm will focus on Asian art. .................................................................

WAR MEDAL There will be a sale of 600 lots at O’Donovan & Associates, North Quay, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, next Saturday at 11am. The sale will feature a collection of Waterford Crystal, art, furniture, gold, silver and collectibles including a 1919-21 War of Independence medal with ribbon issued to an unknown recipient in the west Limerick area. .................................................................

ARTWORK SALE The Daniel Corkery artwork featured on this page last week made €520 at the Cork Auction Rooms sale on Sunday. A Michael Collins commemorative plate made €360 and a musket from Castle Bernard, Bandon, sold for €580. .................................................................

OLDCASTLE AUCTION Matthews of Oldcastle will have a sale on the premises auction at Castlecor House, Oldcastle, Co Meath, on March 11 at 1.30pm. .................................................................

GOLF COLLECTION Christie’s will offer the world’s most important private collection of golf art and memorabilia in London on May 30. The 400-lot collection of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of Valderrama Golf Club in Spain is expected to bring in more than £2m. The most expensively estimated lot is Sir John Lavery’s 1920’s painting of The Golf Course at North Berwick (£200,000-£300,000). There are golf clubs and balls used by players including Allan Robertson and Willie Park Snr. .................................................................

LISMORE CASTLE ARTS The main exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts this year is the first solo show in Ireland by Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn.

Staged in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth and Kesselhaus Josephsohn, the exhibition runs from May 12 to Sep 30.

Georgian antiques top items

T

he Lynes and Lynes sale at East Link Business Park, Carrigtwohill next Saturday at noon features a Cork Georgian linen press and a Georgian dining table among 250 lots. There are several antique Cork side tables with estimates from €400-€1,000, chests of drawers, a bedroom suite by Waring and Gillows and a 19th century brass bound military chest. An Irish Regency library chair is estimated at €3,000-€4,000.

The auction features a gilt overmantel mirror.

Silver includes a William Egan Cork salver with the 1966 Jubilee mark. There is a pair of blue and white Chinese vases with lids, Waterford and other glassware, paintings, watercolours and prints. A George III carved marble fireplace tablet is estimated at €1,500-€2,000. Among the books is The Scenery and Character of Cork illustrated by Gladys Leach and three works by Robert Gibbings.

Viewing is from 10am to 7.30pm next Thursday and Friday and on the morning of the sale.

Above: A Irish Georgian linen press is estimated at €1,000-€1,500.

Right: A 19th century military chest It is estimated at €200-€300.

Both are in the Lynes and Lynes auction in Carrigtwohill next Saturday, Mar 10 at 12 noon.

A 1919-21 War of Independence Medal at O’Donovan’s sale in Newcastlewest on Mar 10. It is estimated at €300-€400.

AUCTION OF ANTIQUES, FINE ART, FURNITURE & EFFECTS, ETC Including contents removed from Bishopstown and Ballincollig, on the instructions of executors and clients.

Wednesday next, March 7th at 6pm

SHEPPARD’S Irish Auction House

LYNES & LYNES

AUCTION

Next Saturday 10th March at 12 noon.

Good Cork House Contents Removed To Our Auction Rooms

PARADIGMS AND THE UNEXPECTED Important three-day sale of 1,320 lots to include items from: Powerscourt House, Viceregal Lodge, Castle Durrow, Kennedy Collection Conn.

USA, Kilcoran House, Sommerville Lodge, Dromoland Castle Durrow is located 90 minutes NE of Cork City: M8 (N), at J3 take R433 (R434) to Durrow

VIEWING

Geo table

Card Table

Gretta O’Brien painting

Irish Silver Dish Ring

Featuring 3 house contents, including Furniture & Effects, Antiques, Collectibles, Paintings, Clocks, Porcelain, Crystal glassware, Statues, etc.

Very good selection of Silver.

Full catalogue and details at www.woodward.ie

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 5pm FREE BIDDING SERVICE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND AUCTION JOSEPH

2:00–6:00pm Saturday: 3 March Sunday: 4 March Monday: 5 March

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

Antique dining, drawing room and bedroom furniture, Waterford glass, china, books, paintings, silver and garden furniture.

Viewing this Thursday and Friday 10am-7.30pm. Also morning of auction at our Auction Rooms: Eastlink Business Park,

Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Tel: 021/4389998; 087/2531580 www.lynesandlynes.com

SALE-DAYS Tuesday: 6 March Wednesday: 7 March Thursday: 8 March ORDER CATALOGUE

www.sheppards.ie e-CATALOGUE Free & fully searchable PROXY & PHONE BIDDER

www.sheppards.ie

Lot 320: Photograph by Chancellor of Dublin, Unidentifed Viceregal pageboys

Bid Live via: www.sheppards.ie

D u r ro w • L a o i s Te l : 0 5 7 8 7 4 0 0 0 0 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

29

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Spring planting A

GARDENNOTES

■ A workshop on ‘Creating a Soft Fruit Garden’ with Susan Turner takes place at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork on Monday from 9am to 2pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

UTUMN may be the time for bulb planting, but in spring it’s much more fun! Back in September I planted a variety of bulbs in shallow pots and containers and put them behind the long, lean-to glasshouse.

Only now as they begin to flower do I take them on little trips around the garden to find more permanent homes.

All I have to do is to dig a hole, pop them in, then firm well before standing back to admire.

The beauty of this arrangement is that you can see exactly where the bulbs are going to look best, where the gaps are, where colour is wanted, and what else is in flower in the vicinity instead of having to rely on a defective memory.

If you are planting a new area from scratch there may be little point in all this temporary potting, but for those with already congested borders, where every push of an autumn trowel seems to produce a crunch of resident bulb or root, the advantages of this spring installation is a far safer bet.

Whether or which, now is the time perhaps to look at bulbs and to make lists for late summer orders. In the meantime, and to sample just such an undertaking, head for the nearest garden centre and bring home a few pots of flowering dwarf bulbs. You will then discover the beauty of this late exercise and see

exactly where the bulbs will give the best return.

Let me give you an example.

Gardeners who grow Magnolia stellata will be quite familiar with the white spidery blooms that appear in April but if you plant a few pots of white Anemone nemorosa or Anemone blanda “White Splendour” beneath its spread (both have similar, white spidery flowers) the magnolia would be greatly enhanced, in bloom and out.

If the bulbs flower before the magnolia, they will surely set up a note of anticipation.

If they flower afterwards, they’ll become echoes of what has passed. And if they all flower together, the bulbs will appear like fallen, miniaturised magnolias! For a pink scheme, one could try planting the crocus sold as “Ladykiller” the flower cup of which is pure white, beneath the branch spread of Magnolia x soulangeana, which boasts pink-tinged, goblet flowers with white insides.

Another scheme could be

For those with congested borders, where every push of a trowel seems to produce a crunch of bulb or root, this spring installation is a far safer bet

Vivid blue Muscari armeniacum, seen here as an additional interest at the base of an orange Fritillaria planting could be used to great effect beneath a silver birch or magnolia.

created using blue bulbs.

Beneath a pure white silver Birch, it is possible to create a stunning scene using Scilla siberica “Spring Beauty” planted in interlocking drifts with the Oxford and Cambridge version of grape hyacinth, Muscari latifolium.

Unlike the common grape

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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■ Fermoy Flower and Garden Club host Caroline and Martin Wilkinson of ‘Gardenwise’, Rockmills, to speak on ‘Garden Maintenance’ on Tuesday at 8pm in the Adair Hall.

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hyacinth with its azure blue pokers above grassy foliage, this Muscari has each bloom set beside a broad, single, shield-like leaf.

Its university connection lies in the two-coloured flower head; Cambridge sky blue leading on top, and Oxford navy blue immediately below.

WORK FOR THE WEEK TREES: As we enter National Tree Week please consider a tree for your garden — even a large specimen if you don’t have the years to see a small one grow tall and stately.

A mature silver Birch at €175 or thereabouts is good value 20ft tall and nearly fully grown. Its branch structure will have a handsome candle-flame shape, and its trunk will be gleaming white. An evergreen Magnolia grandiflora starting at a similar price (moving up of course depending on size), will have a dense, broadly conical shape with leathery, glossy, dark green leaves all of eight inches long. At €60 to €100 it is possible to invest in an established Japanese maple to grace your lawn or act as a focal point.

A mature specimen of tree or large shrub can also be used to mark an occasion. Your choice will delight in the ornamental garden. You must however go to a reputable supplier who will give you a guarantee with your purchase.

■ Aherla Flower and Garden Club host Hanna Huebach to give a floral demonstration on Tuesday at 8pm in the GAA Pavilion, Ovens.

■ Kinsale Flower and Garden Club host Willie Grainger to speak on ‘Gardening Inspiration and Ideas’ on Thursday at 8pm in St Multose Hall.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School have Daniel Crowley to speak on ‘Lawn Maintenance’ on Thursday next at 8pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

They will also advise on how wellsuited it is to the growing conditions you are able to provide. Although it is often easy and inexpensive to take risks with small plants it’s not a good idea when buying expensive specimens. In the Munster area, Nangle and Niesen, Cork, hold a very large variety or semimature and mature ornamental trees and shrubs that are worth viewing at their Aherla complex.

LAVENDER: Lightly shear over lavender hedges, aiming for an even shape, but avoid cutting back into old wood. This is also a good time to plant out new lavender but do remember that it needs a sunny position and freedraining soil. Ensure new plants receive regular watering until established. Lavender’s fibrous roots can find it difficult to make the transition from the nursery’s peaty potting compost into ordinary garden soil. ● Antiques coverage on page 28 and 29

30

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■ The Irish Garden Plant Society meet on Tuesday at 8pm in the SMA Hall, Wilton, Cork. Gerry Harford will talk on ‘Perennials for all seasons’.

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■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday at 8pm in the Westlodge Hotel to hear a talk on ‘Vegetable Growing’.

Interior Doors, from old to new!

������ �������� ������ ����� � ������ ����� ����

■ A series of events aimed at bringing you back to nature and a sustainable way of living takes place at The Pavilion, Ballygarvan, Cork. www.thepavilion.ie

■ Elma Power will give a teach-in/ work-night to the Blackrock Flower and Garden Club on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Ursuline School.

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■ East Cork Flower Club will have Avril Geary, beauty therapist and image consultant, to speak on Monday at 8pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton.

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■ Cork GIY will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre to hear Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds discuss ‘Seeds and Growing for the New Season’.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie

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Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

After Before

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

We renovate & modernise your existing: Interior Doors, Entrance Doors & Staircases

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www.portas.ie

TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:25:35Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:30

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

31

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Spring planting A

GARDENNOTES

■ A workshop on ‘Creating a Soft Fruit Garden’ with Susan Turner takes place at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork on Monday from 9am to 2pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

UTUMN may be the time for bulb planting, but in spring it’s much more fun! Back in September I planted a variety of bulbs in shallow pots and containers and put them behind the long, lean-to glasshouse.

Only now as they begin to flower do I take them on little trips around the garden to find more permanent homes.

All I have to do is to dig a hole, pop them in, then firm well before standing back to admire.

The beauty of this arrangement is that you can see exactly where the bulbs are going to look best, where the gaps are, where colour is wanted, and what else is in flower in the vicinity instead of having to rely on a defective memory.

If you are planting a new area from scratch there may be little point in all this temporary potting, but for those with already congested borders, where every push of an autumn trowel seems to produce a crunch of resident bulb or root, the advantages of this spring installation is a far safer bet.

Whether or which, now is the time perhaps to look at bulbs and to make lists for late summer orders. In the meantime, and to sample just such an undertaking, head for the nearest garden centre and bring home a few pots of flowering dwarf bulbs. You will then discover the beauty of this late exercise and see

exactly where the bulbs will give the best return.

Let me give you an example.

Gardeners who grow Magnolia stellata will be quite familiar with the white spidery blooms that appear in April but if you plant a few pots of white Anemone nemorosa or Anemone blanda “White Splendour” beneath its spread (both have similar, white spidery flowers) the magnolia would be greatly enhanced, in bloom and out.

If the bulbs flower before the magnolia, they will surely set up a note of anticipation.

If they flower afterwards, they’ll become echoes of what has passed. And if they all flower together, the bulbs will appear like fallen, miniaturised magnolias! For a pink scheme, one could try planting the crocus sold as “Ladykiller” the flower cup of which is pure white, beneath the branch spread of Magnolia x soulangeana, which boasts pink-tinged, goblet flowers with white insides.

Another scheme could be

For those with congested borders, where every push of a trowel seems to produce a crunch of bulb or root, this spring installation is a far safer bet

Vivid blue Muscari armeniacum, seen here as an additional interest at the base of an orange Fritillaria planting could be used to great effect beneath a silver birch or magnolia.

created using blue bulbs.

Beneath a pure white silver Birch, it is possible to create a stunning scene using Scilla siberica “Spring Beauty” planted in interlocking drifts with the Oxford and Cambridge version of grape hyacinth, Muscari latifolium.

Unlike the common grape

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

� ��� ���� � ��� ���� ����� ����

■ Fermoy Flower and Garden Club host Caroline and Martin Wilkinson of ‘Gardenwise’, Rockmills, to speak on ‘Garden Maintenance’ on Tuesday at 8pm in the Adair Hall.

���� ����� ������ ����� ���������

hyacinth with its azure blue pokers above grassy foliage, this Muscari has each bloom set beside a broad, single, shield-like leaf.

Its university connection lies in the two-coloured flower head; Cambridge sky blue leading on top, and Oxford navy blue immediately below.

WORK FOR THE WEEK TREES: As we enter National Tree Week please consider a tree for your garden — even a large specimen if you don’t have the years to see a small one grow tall and stately.

A mature silver Birch at €175 or thereabouts is good value 20ft tall and nearly fully grown. Its branch structure will have a handsome candle-flame shape, and its trunk will be gleaming white. An evergreen Magnolia grandiflora starting at a similar price (moving up of course depending on size), will have a dense, broadly conical shape with leathery, glossy, dark green leaves all of eight inches long. At €60 to €100 it is possible to invest in an established Japanese maple to grace your lawn or act as a focal point.

A mature specimen of tree or large shrub can also be used to mark an occasion. Your choice will delight in the ornamental garden. You must however go to a reputable supplier who will give you a guarantee with your purchase.

■ Aherla Flower and Garden Club host Hanna Huebach to give a floral demonstration on Tuesday at 8pm in the GAA Pavilion, Ovens.

■ Kinsale Flower and Garden Club host Willie Grainger to speak on ‘Gardening Inspiration and Ideas’ on Thursday at 8pm in St Multose Hall.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School have Daniel Crowley to speak on ‘Lawn Maintenance’ on Thursday next at 8pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

They will also advise on how wellsuited it is to the growing conditions you are able to provide. Although it is often easy and inexpensive to take risks with small plants it’s not a good idea when buying expensive specimens. In the Munster area, Nangle and Niesen, Cork, hold a very large variety or semimature and mature ornamental trees and shrubs that are worth viewing at their Aherla complex.

LAVENDER: Lightly shear over lavender hedges, aiming for an even shape, but avoid cutting back into old wood. This is also a good time to plant out new lavender but do remember that it needs a sunny position and freedraining soil. Ensure new plants receive regular watering until established. Lavender’s fibrous roots can find it difficult to make the transition from the nursery’s peaty potting compost into ordinary garden soil. ● Antiques coverage on page 28 and 29

30

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■ The Irish Garden Plant Society meet on Tuesday at 8pm in the SMA Hall, Wilton, Cork. Gerry Harford will talk on ‘Perennials for all seasons’.

������ ������� ���� ����������� ���� �� ��� ������� � �����

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■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday at 8pm in the Westlodge Hotel to hear a talk on ‘Vegetable Growing’.

Interior Doors, from old to new!

������ �������� ������ ����� � ������ ����� ����

■ A series of events aimed at bringing you back to nature and a sustainable way of living takes place at The Pavilion, Ballygarvan, Cork. www.thepavilion.ie

■ Elma Power will give a teach-in/ work-night to the Blackrock Flower and Garden Club on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Ursuline School.

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■ East Cork Flower Club will have Avril Geary, beauty therapist and image consultant, to speak on Monday at 8pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton.

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■ Cork GIY will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre to hear Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds discuss ‘Seeds and Growing for the New Season’.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie

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Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

After Before

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

We renovate & modernise your existing: Interior Doors, Entrance Doors & Staircases

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:25:35Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:30

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

31

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:01/03/2012Time:12:32:59Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:32

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

30 Newton Court, Grange, Douglas, Cork

GUIDE PRICE:

€189,000

Aherlamore, Aherla, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€445,000

Apsley, Killumney, Ovens, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€180,000

This is a three bedroom semi-detached house in a prime location, perfectly presented and priced to sell. Accommodation consists of, three bedrooms, family bathroom, reception room and a very large dining room with kitchen. The property has large south facing rear gardens, is within walking distance of Douglas village and has easy accessibility to Cork airport and city.

Close to the villages of Aherla and Kilumney and within a short drive from Cork city and suburbs, this is a Georgian style property with acc. consisting of, 5 bedrooms, 2 en-suite, study, formal reception room and dining room, an enchanting kitchen, breakfast area and T.V. lounge together with a f.f. family bathroom and guest w.c. This is a property which quite simply has the Xfactor in terms of, appearance, style, size and quality in a gorgeous countryside setting.

Substantial circa 0.5 acre site with full planning permission for large detached house. Full planning with no purchasing restrictions, ready to go.

Prime location within walking distance of Kilumney village with nearby National school and access through Apsley Court.

Unique opportunity to avail of historical low building costs.

Full drawings and planning conditions available from agent.

45 Aylsbury Court, Ballincollig, Co. Cork.

Properties Urgently Required NOW!

Moskeigh, Templemartin, Bandon, Co. Cork

A detached property at a semi-detached price. Four bedrooms, huge reception room, kitchen/dining room, family bathroom and gas fired central heating are the basic ingredients. However, location and price are the icing on this particular cake! Aylsbury Downs represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a well constructed and designed house at eye watering price, there are no catches!

Ballincollig, Bandon, Ovens, Bishopstown, Wilton, Douglas.

Cash & Loan Approved Clients Waiting.

Call us for a Meeting to sell your property quickly either on the open Market or discreetly with our ready to go buyers.

Ballincollig: 021 4879007.

Bandon: 023 8844599.

Brendan Bowe: 087 2594481.

This is an exquisite country home flawlessly presented with impeccable quality as standard throughout. Accommodation consists of three fine bedrooms, master ensuite, bathroom, two dedicated reception rooms, together with a sun conservatory as well as an exquisite fitted kitchen complemented by an adjoining utility room.

Outside the property is bounded by a beautiful stone wall and automated gates with a complete wraparound drive, detached garage and manicured lawns.

19 The Spires, Innishannon, Co. Cork

Tullig, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

19 The Priory, Old Chapel, Bandon, Co. Cork

GUIDE PRICE:

GUIDE PRICE:

€195,000

€455,000

GUIDE PRICE:

€150,000

GUIDE PRICE:

GUIDE PRICE:

€280,000

€295,000

This is a stylish home of bespoke standards within the renowned residential enclave of The Spires. Accommodation consists of 4 fine bedrooms with large master en-suite, 5 star bathroom, 3 reception rooms, hobby room, kitchen/dining room, utility room and guest w.c. Enclosed by private south facing walled gardens with a beautiful sun soaked aspect, lawned areas and limestone patio, all located within the Sylvian setting of Innishannon village and less than 14 miles of Cork City.

A traditional farmhouse in a beautiful countryside setting near Ballinascarthy village and close to Clonakilty and Bandon. The property is in flawless condition with gas fired central heating with accommodation consisting of 3 bedrooms, master en-suite, bathroom and guest w.c, reception room and kitchen/dining room with complementing utility room. The property is surrounded by mature trees and hedgerows. Joint Agents: Hodnett Forde Property Services, Clonakilty, 023 88 33367.

An exquisite 4 bedroom detached home in a location that is both sought after, private and exclusive within The Priory. Smashing accommodation, flawlessly presented, includes four bedrooms, master en-suite, two reception rooms, bathroom and guest w.c, together with a beautiful fully fitted kitchen/dining room complemented by a utility area. This is a home of substance, style and a great location presented in a very smart and subtle manner.

Kilpatrick, Bandon, Co. Cork

15 Grange Way, Grange Manor, Ovens, Co. Cork.

Rose Cottage, Kielys Lane, Cloghroe, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€320,000

This is a very impressive country home with exquisite views, superb convenience to both Bandon town and Innishannon village and within twenty minutes direct easy drive of Cork City. The property has generous living accommodation consisting of 5 bedrooms, 2 en-suite, family bathroom and guest w.c, study, 2 reception rooms and enormous fully fitted kitchen/dining room with conservatory and utility room complementing.

Gardens are laid out under lawn and a detached garage is also offered.

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GUIDE PRICE:

€190,000

Located in a secluded private part of Grange Manor, No. 15 is a three storey house with accommodation consisting of, three bedrooms, master en-suite, guest w.c., fully fitted kitchen/dining room and separate lounge.

The rear garden is south east facing and extremely private.

The property is located within a short distance of the Ballincollig by-pass and Ballincollig itself. Ideal starter home.

GUIDE PRICE:

€275,000

Rose Cottage is a quirky lifestyle family home on circa 3/4 of an acre with smashing privacy and wonderful character coupled with super convenience to Tower, Blarney, Ballincollig and Cork city suburbs. The property has been wonderfully maintained as a family home both internally and externally.

For the buyer seeking a property that is a little bit different but with style and character will find Rose Cottage a property worthy of closer attention.

Full planning permission for large extension. Unique, stylish and convenient.

Zone:XP1

Property

03.03.2012

XP1 - V1

& Interiors

Photo by Denis Scannell

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:01/03/2012Time:12:42:38Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:1

Anchors aweigh The romantically-sited home of Lewis and Loretta Brennan Glucksman comes up for sale in Cork harbour

PLUS • MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF FEATURE • STYLISH HOMES • GET THE LOOK • ANTIQUES • STEP BY STEP DIY

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:30:43Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:2

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

XP1 - V1

Tommy Barker reports

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It’s been years since a Ballincurrig, Douglas family home came up for this sort of money — a sub €300,000 asking price is pinned to the four-bed semi-d called Cremore, in this quietest of cul de sac estates.

Correction: Ballincurrig is actually (in proper Douglas/Cork parlance at least) a ’park,’ rather than an estate: it’s the sort of setting where houses have names, rather than numbers.

But, to be egalitarian, Cremore also has its number displayed, it’s No 24 in the park - but it’s the asking price of €295,000 via agents Casey and Kingston that most people will want to number crunch.

That level, within reach of double income first time buyers, contrasts sharply with a similar sized Ballincurrig four-bed across the road, with a price ‘reduced’ and then frozen at €490,000, and on the market for quite a while, also via Casey and Kingston.

Take it as read: No 24 aka Cremore

CONTENTS 4

TRADING A former college principal’s home is being sold by Teagasc.

8

upgrading and/or extending, and right isn’t going to be around too long if its now has only the one, main bathroom. vendors are genuine enough about the But, it has a trump card up its sleeve quoted AMV. It really does seem like a — a west-facing back garden. snip for the location and the local That aspect is pitch-perfect for any cachet, even though many of the houses aren’t a whole lot different from those in extension plans, whilst there’s also a detached some of the garage which neighbouring Location: Douglas, Cork give further Douglas ‘thruPrice: €295,000 scope and roads,’ and the potential. gardens aren’t Size: 110 sq m (1,200 sq ft) Back in the overly generous Bedrooms: 4 boom several either.

Ballincurrig Cremore, sort BER rating: Pending houses of this of slab-faced with Broadband: Yes mid-1900s four large vintage made windows Best asset: Cul de sac setting big €500/600kunbroken by a plus money, even so much as but few had this favourable aspect. One bay window, is at the southern end of sale in 2006 touched around €750k, the cul de sac block, and is in fairly while in 2009 another made in the low original and untouched condition, at €400,000, and has been hugely extended. least in terms of extension. Although it And, that’s why estate agent Andrew had a kitchen put in some years ago, as Donoghue of Casey and Kingston estate well as pvc double glazing, it needs

MORTGAGES We’ve a special feature on Mortgage Interest Relief for FTBs this year.

14 FEATURES There’s a cedar link between two detached houses in Cork and Waterford.

16 COVER Top of the world.

East Grove house seems to attract buyers from afar.

20 22 27 28 30

agents (who earlier this month got around €500,000 for the period do-er upper Wood House on seven acres on the Rochestown Road) is feeling positive about Cremore’s prospects.

It’s a walk to Douglas village, or a walk to Cork city centre, with schools, public park, swimming pool and shops all nearby, and so could make a great base to put down family roots in.

Rooms include two side-by-side front reception rooms, kitchen with oak units, and four bedrooms, two of them doubles, plus family bathroom. Gas heating is installed, and there’s a good garage and boiler house in the mature back garden, while the front garden has privacy thanks to a high surrounding wall, with off-street parking.

VERDICT: Most who bought here in the past few years spent heavily on upgrades and extensions and they paid a whole heap more than perfectly-sited Cremore to begin with.

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES GARDENING

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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2

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IRISH EXAMINER �� Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

3

TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:30:43Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:2

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

XP1 - V1

Tommy Barker reports

������ �� ����� ����� � �� � � � ��� �����

It’s been years since a Ballincurrig, Douglas family home came up for this sort of money — a sub €300,000 asking price is pinned to the four-bed semi-d called Cremore, in this quietest of cul de sac estates.

Correction: Ballincurrig is actually (in proper Douglas/Cork parlance at least) a ’park,’ rather than an estate: it’s the sort of setting where houses have names, rather than numbers.

But, to be egalitarian, Cremore also has its number displayed, it’s No 24 in the park - but it’s the asking price of €295,000 via agents Casey and Kingston that most people will want to number crunch.

That level, within reach of double income first time buyers, contrasts sharply with a similar sized Ballincurrig four-bed across the road, with a price ‘reduced’ and then frozen at €490,000, and on the market for quite a while, also via Casey and Kingston.

Take it as read: No 24 aka Cremore

CONTENTS 4

TRADING A former college principal’s home is being sold by Teagasc.

8

upgrading and/or extending, and right isn’t going to be around too long if its now has only the one, main bathroom. vendors are genuine enough about the But, it has a trump card up its sleeve quoted AMV. It really does seem like a — a west-facing back garden. snip for the location and the local That aspect is pitch-perfect for any cachet, even though many of the houses aren’t a whole lot different from those in extension plans, whilst there’s also a detached some of the garage which neighbouring Location: Douglas, Cork give further Douglas ‘thruPrice: €295,000 scope and roads,’ and the potential. gardens aren’t Size: 110 sq m (1,200 sq ft) Back in the overly generous Bedrooms: 4 boom several either.

Ballincurrig Cremore, sort BER rating: Pending houses of this of slab-faced with Broadband: Yes mid-1900s four large vintage made windows Best asset: Cul de sac setting big €500/600kunbroken by a plus money, even so much as but few had this favourable aspect. One bay window, is at the southern end of sale in 2006 touched around €750k, the cul de sac block, and is in fairly while in 2009 another made in the low original and untouched condition, at €400,000, and has been hugely extended. least in terms of extension. Although it And, that’s why estate agent Andrew had a kitchen put in some years ago, as Donoghue of Casey and Kingston estate well as pvc double glazing, it needs

MORTGAGES We’ve a special feature on Mortgage Interest Relief for FTBs this year.

14 FEATURES There’s a cedar link between two detached houses in Cork and Waterford.

16 COVER Top of the world.

East Grove house seems to attract buyers from afar.

20 22 27 28 30

agents (who earlier this month got around €500,000 for the period do-er upper Wood House on seven acres on the Rochestown Road) is feeling positive about Cremore’s prospects.

It’s a walk to Douglas village, or a walk to Cork city centre, with schools, public park, swimming pool and shops all nearby, and so could make a great base to put down family roots in.

Rooms include two side-by-side front reception rooms, kitchen with oak units, and four bedrooms, two of them doubles, plus family bathroom. Gas heating is installed, and there’s a good garage and boiler house in the mature back garden, while the front garden has privacy thanks to a high surrounding wall, with off-street parking.

VERDICT: Most who bought here in the past few years spent heavily on upgrades and extensions and they paid a whole heap more than perfectly-sited Cremore to begin with.

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES GARDENING

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

2

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IRISH EXAMINER �� Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

3

TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:31:06Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:4

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

TRADING UP

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country ��� �����

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BALLINAMULT, WATERFORD €175,000 Sq. m: 225 (2,450 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband:Yes

You don’t have to spend lots of money to trade up to a sizeable family home on a good-sized site, especially if you are hankering after a quiet rural location.

A fresh to market February offering with West Waterford agent Eamonn Spratt is this five-bed home at between Dungarvan and Clonmel, at Doon, Ballinamult about a 20 minute spin from Dungarvan.

It was built as recently as 2007, and is fully finished inside, but even a first lick of paint and some colour on its rendered outside walls would really convey its completion. A first job for a buyer, perhaps. and they’ll even get to choose the colour?

It’s priced to sell, emphasises Mr Spratt, guiding it at what seems like very good value for a five-bed at €175,000, and he says it’s on an elevated acre and that the location is scenic, with a south-west aspect and rural views including mature trees by its entrance.

Two of its five laminate-floored bedrooms are en suite, there are two nice-sized (15’ by 13’) reception rooms and an attractive 22’ by 12’ kitchen with island and wood units, while other finish levels are good, with good wood and porcelain tiled floors etc in several other rooms.

VERDICT: Plenty of space here with five beds inside and an acre of ground for a Munster family on the move.

LISSARDA, CORK €340,000 Sq. m: 252 (2,700 sq ft) BER rating: B1

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

BISHOPSTOWN, CORK €335,000 Sq m: 144 (1,550sq ft) BER rating: Pending

VERDICT: Close to Lissarda and Kilmurry village, this Duniskey property is a 20 minute commute to Cork city and is close to Macroom town.

VERDICT: Leafy and mature, and with good schools on the doorstep, Glengorm is a classic trader-upper with room to improve and extend.

To mix a banking metaphor, there’ll be interest in the sale of this former principal’s property.

New to market, and set to sell by tender, is the former residence of the principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College at Darrara, a mile from Clonakilty town on the main Timoleague Road. The Clon college (one of seven of its ilk nationwide) currently is performing a vital function in training and certifying a new generation of farmers, and has deep roots in this farming hinterland.

However, farm training body Teagasc has decided the house which it owns near Darrara, and which has served for years as the college principal’s own home, is surplus to requirements.

4

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

One of the more discreet estates off the Model Farm Road in Cork, the Ridgeway is tucked into a crescent between Laburnum Park and Bishopstown Avenue — and therein lies its attraction.

This week sees a new for-sale board up in the estate, for Glengorm, a large, four-bed semi that will need a substantial overhaul, says Jarleth Boyd, of Timothy Sullivan and Associates.

The house has a perfect south/southwest aspect, he says, and a large corner site that would allow substantial development. The Ridgeway is a twominute walk to the grounds of CUH. The layout includes a sitting room, dining room, a kitchen-breakfast room, utility and guest WC with access to the attached garage.

The bedroom floor has two good double rooms, a small double and a single with main bathroom. Outside, the gardens are in lawn, and here again there’s plenty of scope to give the house personality.

Glengorm is in need of TLC and perhaps an extension, but with aspect and location boxes ticked, the house would reward the investment for familyhome buyers.

Sq m: 154 (1,650 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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GRANGE, CORK €219,000

The question to ask with a one-off rural house like this is: “how much would it cost to build now?”

Even in a flattened market, taking site value, planning and design, contractor’s costs, finish and fittings into account, the asking price is now often lower than the cost of building, even now. And that’s without factoring time and the headaches a self-build involves.

So with this in mind, families looking for a rural retreat with plenty of room may find that this house at Duniskey, Lissarda fits the bill.

On the market with Killian Lynch of KL Auctioneers, Macroom, it’s a fully finished house and it comes with a great kitchen and dining/living room with solid fuel stove, and includes a sun room and detached garage as part of its layout. It comes with finished grounds.

The house is part of a small cluster of one-off houses located about a quarter mile from the Cork-Macroom road.

Rooms include a generous sitting room, kitchen/dining room, sun room with vaulted ceilings, utility and bedroom with adjoining jacuzzi bathroom on the ground floor.

Upstairs there are four more bedrooms, all of which are en suite.

CLONAKILTY, CORK c€250,000 (Tender)

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Sq. m: 79 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms:3 Broadband:Yes

A modern build, to a high standard, and a detached status set 1A Grange Road up as a comfortable buy.

Built just about five years ago, and with masonry block construction, this three-bed home is at the start of the Grange Road above Douglas, Cork.

It is new to market with agents FML Properties in the city centre, who seek €219,000 for the smart and well-built home, within a five minute walk of Douglas’s amenities.

There’s off-street parking for a few cars on its cobbled drive, a 17’ by 12’ living room with wood floor and fireplace, as well as patio/garden access via French doors. Next to it is an open plan kitchen/dining room, long at 24’ by almost 10’, with a tiled floor, while the ground level also has a guest WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms plus a main bathroom with bath/shower.

To the rear is a walled in garden, which isn’t overlooked, add FML, and heating is gas-fire and zoned. There’s great amenities and a huge shopping choice on either side of this superconvenient Grange Road home, with Aldi and SuperValu across the road, and Dunnes and Tesco in Douglas.

VERDICT: There aren’t too many detached homes within a such a short walk of Douglas village, while the south city ring road is a mile away in the other direction.

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes It’s a good property offer: a four-bed 1,650 sq ft bungalow, on a private landscaped site of 1.25 acres, a mile or so east of the town by what’s known as the main farm entrance, less than an hour from Cork city and airport. Added to the mix is a detached 350 sq ft garage.

Selling agent is Charles P McCarthy in Skibbereen, who says the single storey house is in good overall condition with pleasant views.

Rooms include a 21’ by 21 living room, a large kitchen/dining room, front and back halls, bathroom, shower room and four bedrooms.

VERDICT: What? No mud room?

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CASH BUYERS URGENTLY LOOKING FOR SEMI-DETACHED HOMES IN BALLINCOLLIG, BISHOPSTOWN, DOUGLAS & GLANMIRE

For a free valuation Call Sherry FitzGerald ��� ��� ���� �� ����� ������������

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��������������������������������� IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:31:06Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:4

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XP1 - V1

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PROPERTY

TRADING UP

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country ��� �����

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BALLINAMULT, WATERFORD €175,000 Sq. m: 225 (2,450 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband:Yes

You don’t have to spend lots of money to trade up to a sizeable family home on a good-sized site, especially if you are hankering after a quiet rural location.

A fresh to market February offering with West Waterford agent Eamonn Spratt is this five-bed home at between Dungarvan and Clonmel, at Doon, Ballinamult about a 20 minute spin from Dungarvan.

It was built as recently as 2007, and is fully finished inside, but even a first lick of paint and some colour on its rendered outside walls would really convey its completion. A first job for a buyer, perhaps. and they’ll even get to choose the colour?

It’s priced to sell, emphasises Mr Spratt, guiding it at what seems like very good value for a five-bed at €175,000, and he says it’s on an elevated acre and that the location is scenic, with a south-west aspect and rural views including mature trees by its entrance.

Two of its five laminate-floored bedrooms are en suite, there are two nice-sized (15’ by 13’) reception rooms and an attractive 22’ by 12’ kitchen with island and wood units, while other finish levels are good, with good wood and porcelain tiled floors etc in several other rooms.

VERDICT: Plenty of space here with five beds inside and an acre of ground for a Munster family on the move.

LISSARDA, CORK €340,000 Sq. m: 252 (2,700 sq ft) BER rating: B1

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

BISHOPSTOWN, CORK €335,000 Sq m: 144 (1,550sq ft) BER rating: Pending

VERDICT: Close to Lissarda and Kilmurry village, this Duniskey property is a 20 minute commute to Cork city and is close to Macroom town.

VERDICT: Leafy and mature, and with good schools on the doorstep, Glengorm is a classic trader-upper with room to improve and extend.

To mix a banking metaphor, there’ll be interest in the sale of this former principal’s property.

New to market, and set to sell by tender, is the former residence of the principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College at Darrara, a mile from Clonakilty town on the main Timoleague Road. The Clon college (one of seven of its ilk nationwide) currently is performing a vital function in training and certifying a new generation of farmers, and has deep roots in this farming hinterland.

However, farm training body Teagasc has decided the house which it owns near Darrara, and which has served for years as the college principal’s own home, is surplus to requirements.

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Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

One of the more discreet estates off the Model Farm Road in Cork, the Ridgeway is tucked into a crescent between Laburnum Park and Bishopstown Avenue — and therein lies its attraction.

This week sees a new for-sale board up in the estate, for Glengorm, a large, four-bed semi that will need a substantial overhaul, says Jarleth Boyd, of Timothy Sullivan and Associates.

The house has a perfect south/southwest aspect, he says, and a large corner site that would allow substantial development. The Ridgeway is a twominute walk to the grounds of CUH. The layout includes a sitting room, dining room, a kitchen-breakfast room, utility and guest WC with access to the attached garage.

The bedroom floor has two good double rooms, a small double and a single with main bathroom. Outside, the gardens are in lawn, and here again there’s plenty of scope to give the house personality.

Glengorm is in need of TLC and perhaps an extension, but with aspect and location boxes ticked, the house would reward the investment for familyhome buyers.

Sq m: 154 (1,650 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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GRANGE, CORK €219,000

The question to ask with a one-off rural house like this is: “how much would it cost to build now?”

Even in a flattened market, taking site value, planning and design, contractor’s costs, finish and fittings into account, the asking price is now often lower than the cost of building, even now. And that’s without factoring time and the headaches a self-build involves.

So with this in mind, families looking for a rural retreat with plenty of room may find that this house at Duniskey, Lissarda fits the bill.

On the market with Killian Lynch of KL Auctioneers, Macroom, it’s a fully finished house and it comes with a great kitchen and dining/living room with solid fuel stove, and includes a sun room and detached garage as part of its layout. It comes with finished grounds.

The house is part of a small cluster of one-off houses located about a quarter mile from the Cork-Macroom road.

Rooms include a generous sitting room, kitchen/dining room, sun room with vaulted ceilings, utility and bedroom with adjoining jacuzzi bathroom on the ground floor.

Upstairs there are four more bedrooms, all of which are en suite.

CLONAKILTY, CORK c€250,000 (Tender)

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Sq. m: 79 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms:3 Broadband:Yes

A modern build, to a high standard, and a detached status set 1A Grange Road up as a comfortable buy.

Built just about five years ago, and with masonry block construction, this three-bed home is at the start of the Grange Road above Douglas, Cork.

It is new to market with agents FML Properties in the city centre, who seek €219,000 for the smart and well-built home, within a five minute walk of Douglas’s amenities.

There’s off-street parking for a few cars on its cobbled drive, a 17’ by 12’ living room with wood floor and fireplace, as well as patio/garden access via French doors. Next to it is an open plan kitchen/dining room, long at 24’ by almost 10’, with a tiled floor, while the ground level also has a guest WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms plus a main bathroom with bath/shower.

To the rear is a walled in garden, which isn’t overlooked, add FML, and heating is gas-fire and zoned. There’s great amenities and a huge shopping choice on either side of this superconvenient Grange Road home, with Aldi and SuperValu across the road, and Dunnes and Tesco in Douglas.

VERDICT: There aren’t too many detached homes within a such a short walk of Douglas village, while the south city ring road is a mile away in the other direction.

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes It’s a good property offer: a four-bed 1,650 sq ft bungalow, on a private landscaped site of 1.25 acres, a mile or so east of the town by what’s known as the main farm entrance, less than an hour from Cork city and airport. Added to the mix is a detached 350 sq ft garage.

Selling agent is Charles P McCarthy in Skibbereen, who says the single storey house is in good overall condition with pleasant views.

Rooms include a 21’ by 21 living room, a large kitchen/dining room, front and back halls, bathroom, shower room and four bedrooms.

VERDICT: What? No mud room?

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CASH BUYERS URGENTLY LOOKING FOR SEMI-DETACHED HOMES IN BALLINCOLLIG, BISHOPSTOWN, DOUGLAS & GLANMIRE

For a free valuation Call Sherry FitzGerald ��� ��� ���� �� ����� ������������

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��������������������������������� IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

5

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:01/03/2012Time:13:37:16Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:6

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V2

STARTER HOMES

XP1 - V2

PROPERTY

Immaculate duplex a good buy

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best feature:

Just minutes from Douglas Village, No 35 doesn’t disappoint, Rose Martin reports

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

DUNMANWAY, CO CORK €130,000 Sq m: 100 (1,099 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Just on the outskirts of Dunmanway in West Cork is this four-bed bungalow on a good, rural site, with a €130,000 asking price via agent Henry O’Leary.

Woodview is all ground floor accommodation right now, a well-kept site with detached garage, and shed.

VERDICT: Convenient to the town, but private, about an hour from Cork city.

MAYFIELD, CORK €130,000 Sq m: 78 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

Near lots of services and amenities in Cork city’s Mayfield is 2, St. Joseph’s Park, a midterraced three bed with front and back gardens.

A good starter package at the price, it probably needs doing up a bit now, but this can be done in time, suggests auctioneer Terry Hayes of REMAX. It fits in living room, kitchen, utility, guest WC, and three overhead beds plus main bathroom.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €215,000 125 sq m (1,340 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

Plenty of extras to tempt buyers

This very attractive three-bed house, in good condition, in a good area could tick a lot of boxes for first time buyers or even trader-uppers. Rose Martin reports WHEN it comes to that first buy, it helps to have lots of extras tagged onto a sale.

And that’s why this house ticks a lot of boxes for first timers — or even trader-uppers.

An extended three bed, No 1 The Walk, is situated in the Heron’s Wood estate in Carrigaline, which has a vibrant and active residents’ association.

It’s a short commute to the city and the big pharma companies in the area, while the centre of Carrigaline is within buggy pushing distance.

On the market with Kevin Barry of Barry Auctioneers, No 1 offers very good space and a good, contemporary interior, is not overlooked and has a

corner site near the Fernhill road side of the estate.

The ground floor comes with an open plan structure where the living room runs into the dining room and then into the kitchen, and there’s a separate utility and guest bathroom. The extended area to the side is used as a playroom but could be a study, library or games room/gym.

Upstairs the master bedroom is en-suite and there’s a double and single room included, along with a main bathroom.

VERDICT: A very attractive house, in good condition, in a good area.

No 2 is a prime example of the way houses should be built in future

This house near Bandon’s town centre is ideal for first time buyers, writes Rose Martin

VERDICT: The gardens are a bonus.

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

On a corner site, with a good back garden, No 28 Primrose Hill is a three-bed property in an estate of similar houses close to Tower village.

In fact, local amenities are on the doorstep and the property is a quick commute to Cork city. Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh are the selling agents.

VERDICT: With three bedrooms, this dormer house has an open plan layout on the ground floor and is ideal as a starter home or rental property.

6

T

HERE’S a hefty amount of space in this immaculate duplex at 35 Rowan Hill, Mount Oval Village in Cork’s Rochestown, and that’s just one of the reasons why is might make a good buy.

There are a few more reasons: like the fact that it’s end of terrace, has a secure, west-facing garden, is part of a planned, urban development with

amenities on site and is minutes from bustling Douglas village.

The ground floor duplex (there’s access from a height behind on this sloping site to the top/second floor apartment) is very elegant too, and is ideal for a couple with dogs, as the rear garden is fully walled-in and leads directly onto a large green space, so perfect for walkies. The upside of this is

KENMARE, CO. KERRY GLANEROUGHT

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Bandon, Co Cork €189,000 88 sq m (950 sq ft) 3/4 A3 Yes

So: cheap to run, easy to maintain and less than minute from the town’s centre — No 2 is a runner for first time buyers.

It’s on the market at €189,000 through Paddy Murray Auctioneers, a price which reflects the long term savings that can be made with high-grade builds.

Rooms include a sitting room, living room, fresh vanilla kitchen/diner, utility, guest bathroom and study on the ground floor.

Overhead, there’s a master suite and two double bedrooms with bathroom.

A development within walking distance of Kenmare town

VERDICT: Built the way all houses should be built — who cares about privatisation, energy bills will be a doddle.

3 bedroom Semi Detached Houses .............€90,000 Detached & Town Houses also available

VERDICT: The interior is fresh, clean and contemporary, and for those looking for a large, streamlined home in Douglas it’s worth a look through Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald.

For Sale by Public Auction (unless previously sold)

• 3 Bedroom Semi - detached house • Centrally located minutes from Douglas • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

84 Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney Co. Cork 4 bed detached house

AUCTIONEER • VALUER • ESTATE AGENT • PROPERTY CONSULTANT

5 Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co.Kerry tel: +353 64 6633066, fax: +353 64 6633958 email: tspillane@eircom.net www.tomspillane.ie

dining/kitchen area facing west with Juliet balcony and a second double bedroom with main bathroom across the landing.

“The Property Auction Experts”

Westin View, Carrigaline, Cork

PRICES FROM

Rebuilt on the site of two older dwellings, this right hand semi-d in Bandon’s town centre is the first BER ‘A-rated’ home that agent Damien Murray has come across — and he’s a certified BER assessor too.

No 2 Knockbrogan Park, Bandon, is a three to four bed house, (the ground floor study converts) and it only just over a year old and built to a high spec.

As well as high insulation and airtightness values, it has rainwater recycling, solar panels and wood burning stoves is both living rooms.

And there’s gas fired heating, but with a house as snug as this, it’s unlikely to be used much throughout the year.

that the house isn’t overlooked, either.

Warm and well styled, No 35 has an unpredictable layout because of the mix of ground and first floor living space: it’s a rather grown up house.

At the entrance level there’s the smaller of two good living rooms, a single bedroom and master suite with separate WC. Upstairs, there’s a generous living/

“On owners instructions” Tuesday 27th March 2012 @ 2.30pm. The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

Agent on Site Saturday, 10th March 12 - 3pm

TOWER, CORK €145,000 Sq m: 90 (980 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Mount Oval Village, Cork €290,000 128 sq m (1,387 sq ft) 4 Pending Yes Layout

88 South Mall, Cork.

Tel: 021-4277717 Fax 021-4274820 email: info@cdacork.com www.cdacork.com

Heathfield, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork

13 Castle Avenue, Carrigtwohill, Cork

• Spacious 3 Bed Detached House • C1.25 acres • Mature & sheltered gardens front and rear

PRICED TO SELL

Selection of other Properties for Auction Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork Traditional cottage on C. 0.5 acre

• 4 Bed Two Storey Semi Detached House • Newly refurbished • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal Stunning 2 Bed Apartment in 5 star luxury complex

For further information and viewings contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall,Cork - Tel: 021 4278455 Email: info@denisbarrett.com

Web: www.denisbarrett.com IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

7

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:01/03/2012Time:13:37:16Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:6

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V2

STARTER HOMES

XP1 - V2

PROPERTY

Immaculate duplex a good buy

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best feature:

Just minutes from Douglas Village, No 35 doesn’t disappoint, Rose Martin reports

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

DUNMANWAY, CO CORK €130,000 Sq m: 100 (1,099 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Just on the outskirts of Dunmanway in West Cork is this four-bed bungalow on a good, rural site, with a €130,000 asking price via agent Henry O’Leary.

Woodview is all ground floor accommodation right now, a well-kept site with detached garage, and shed.

VERDICT: Convenient to the town, but private, about an hour from Cork city.

MAYFIELD, CORK €130,000 Sq m: 78 (850 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

Near lots of services and amenities in Cork city’s Mayfield is 2, St. Joseph’s Park, a midterraced three bed with front and back gardens.

A good starter package at the price, it probably needs doing up a bit now, but this can be done in time, suggests auctioneer Terry Hayes of REMAX. It fits in living room, kitchen, utility, guest WC, and three overhead beds plus main bathroom.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €215,000 125 sq m (1,340 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

Plenty of extras to tempt buyers

This very attractive three-bed house, in good condition, in a good area could tick a lot of boxes for first time buyers or even trader-uppers. Rose Martin reports WHEN it comes to that first buy, it helps to have lots of extras tagged onto a sale.

And that’s why this house ticks a lot of boxes for first timers — or even trader-uppers.

An extended three bed, No 1 The Walk, is situated in the Heron’s Wood estate in Carrigaline, which has a vibrant and active residents’ association.

It’s a short commute to the city and the big pharma companies in the area, while the centre of Carrigaline is within buggy pushing distance.

On the market with Kevin Barry of Barry Auctioneers, No 1 offers very good space and a good, contemporary interior, is not overlooked and has a

corner site near the Fernhill road side of the estate.

The ground floor comes with an open plan structure where the living room runs into the dining room and then into the kitchen, and there’s a separate utility and guest bathroom. The extended area to the side is used as a playroom but could be a study, library or games room/gym.

Upstairs the master bedroom is en-suite and there’s a double and single room included, along with a main bathroom.

VERDICT: A very attractive house, in good condition, in a good area.

No 2 is a prime example of the way houses should be built in future

This house near Bandon’s town centre is ideal for first time buyers, writes Rose Martin

VERDICT: The gardens are a bonus.

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

On a corner site, with a good back garden, No 28 Primrose Hill is a three-bed property in an estate of similar houses close to Tower village.

In fact, local amenities are on the doorstep and the property is a quick commute to Cork city. Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh are the selling agents.

VERDICT: With three bedrooms, this dormer house has an open plan layout on the ground floor and is ideal as a starter home or rental property.

6

T

HERE’S a hefty amount of space in this immaculate duplex at 35 Rowan Hill, Mount Oval Village in Cork’s Rochestown, and that’s just one of the reasons why is might make a good buy.

There are a few more reasons: like the fact that it’s end of terrace, has a secure, west-facing garden, is part of a planned, urban development with

amenities on site and is minutes from bustling Douglas village.

The ground floor duplex (there’s access from a height behind on this sloping site to the top/second floor apartment) is very elegant too, and is ideal for a couple with dogs, as the rear garden is fully walled-in and leads directly onto a large green space, so perfect for walkies. The upside of this is

KENMARE, CO. KERRY GLANEROUGHT

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Bandon, Co Cork €189,000 88 sq m (950 sq ft) 3/4 A3 Yes

So: cheap to run, easy to maintain and less than minute from the town’s centre — No 2 is a runner for first time buyers.

It’s on the market at €189,000 through Paddy Murray Auctioneers, a price which reflects the long term savings that can be made with high-grade builds.

Rooms include a sitting room, living room, fresh vanilla kitchen/diner, utility, guest bathroom and study on the ground floor.

Overhead, there’s a master suite and two double bedrooms with bathroom.

A development within walking distance of Kenmare town

VERDICT: Built the way all houses should be built — who cares about privatisation, energy bills will be a doddle.

3 bedroom Semi Detached Houses .............€90,000 Detached & Town Houses also available

VERDICT: The interior is fresh, clean and contemporary, and for those looking for a large, streamlined home in Douglas it’s worth a look through Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald.

For Sale by Public Auction (unless previously sold)

• 3 Bedroom Semi - detached house • Centrally located minutes from Douglas • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

84 Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney Co. Cork 4 bed detached house

AUCTIONEER • VALUER • ESTATE AGENT • PROPERTY CONSULTANT

5 Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co.Kerry tel: +353 64 6633066, fax: +353 64 6633958 email: tspillane@eircom.net www.tomspillane.ie

dining/kitchen area facing west with Juliet balcony and a second double bedroom with main bathroom across the landing.

“The Property Auction Experts”

Westin View, Carrigaline, Cork

PRICES FROM

Rebuilt on the site of two older dwellings, this right hand semi-d in Bandon’s town centre is the first BER ‘A-rated’ home that agent Damien Murray has come across — and he’s a certified BER assessor too.

No 2 Knockbrogan Park, Bandon, is a three to four bed house, (the ground floor study converts) and it only just over a year old and built to a high spec.

As well as high insulation and airtightness values, it has rainwater recycling, solar panels and wood burning stoves is both living rooms.

And there’s gas fired heating, but with a house as snug as this, it’s unlikely to be used much throughout the year.

that the house isn’t overlooked, either.

Warm and well styled, No 35 has an unpredictable layout because of the mix of ground and first floor living space: it’s a rather grown up house.

At the entrance level there’s the smaller of two good living rooms, a single bedroom and master suite with separate WC. Upstairs, there’s a generous living/

“On owners instructions” Tuesday 27th March 2012 @ 2.30pm. The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

Agent on Site Saturday, 10th March 12 - 3pm

TOWER, CORK €145,000 Sq m: 90 (980 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Mount Oval Village, Cork €290,000 128 sq m (1,387 sq ft) 4 Pending Yes Layout

88 South Mall, Cork.

Tel: 021-4277717 Fax 021-4274820 email: info@cdacork.com www.cdacork.com

Heathfield, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork

13 Castle Avenue, Carrigtwohill, Cork

• Spacious 3 Bed Detached House • C1.25 acres • Mature & sheltered gardens front and rear

PRICED TO SELL

Selection of other Properties for Auction Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork Traditional cottage on C. 0.5 acre

• 4 Bed Two Storey Semi Detached House • Newly refurbished • Ideal family home

PRICED TO SELL

Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal Stunning 2 Bed Apartment in 5 star luxury complex

For further information and viewings contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall,Cork - Tel: 021 4278455 Email: info@denisbarrett.com

Web: www.denisbarrett.com IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

7

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:42Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:8

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Mortgage Interest Relief extended for home-buyers until end of 2012 MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF The rate of mortgage interest relief available to first time buyers is 25% in year 1 & 2. 22.5% in years 3, 4 & 5 & 20% for years 6 & 7. This is capped at a maximum interest of €10,000 for a single applicant or €20,000 for a joint applicant. This is provided the mortgage is drawn before the end of this year.

For example: A couple taking out a mortgage of €300,000 on a variable rate of 3.95%.

Interest in year 1 = €11,850. (€300,000 multiplied by 3.95% = €11,850)

I

A considerable amount of cash is saved if you take out and draw down a mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013

T'S a strange enough sign of the times but the word “austerity” seems to trip off the tongue far more regularly than expressions like “tax breaks” or even “cash back”. But the new government did pull a welcomed rabbit out of the hat on Budget Day last December when they surprisingly extended the MIR for home-buyers for another year.

Mortgage Interest Relief was meant to be ended as an option to all property buyers at the end of last year but the current administration appear to have recognised the importance of MIR to the property market.

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be

on it.” So says Peter Magee, Director Head of Mortgages at nationwide franchise group Sherry Fitzgerald.

Where the message is getting through, it is having some impact, as Magee explains: “I had a client who rang me to say that they weren’t thinking about buying for

€11,850 multiplied by 25% = €2962.50. (maximum allowance for year 1)

A special rate of 30% for the tax years 2012 to 2017 is being introduced for first-time buyers who bought their sole or main residence for the first time in the years 2004 to 2008 or paid their first mortgage interest payment in this period.

Source: Hawkesworth & Co. Financial Services.

8

you’ll be getting €168.75 back every month in interest relief, it’s a lot of money.”

It’s certainly not to be sniffed at and, as this is

the extension of a scheme that was destined to be closed at the end of 2011, the likelihood of it being further extended at the end of 2012 is unlikely in

the extreme. The reality is that it isn’t always possible for people to do that. The inability and/or unwillingness of banks to lend is still and issue, but

LISHEEN FIELDS, OVENS, CO. CORK

Email:omwrecption@eircom.net

Mortgages taken out after the 31st of December 2012 will not qualify for mortgage interest relief.

Non-first-time buyers in 2012 will get mortgage interest relief at a rate of 15% from 2012 until 2017

relief because it’s good money to have.

“If you’re first-time buyers doing a mortgage of €250,000 and you’re taking a rate of 3.24%,

it’s an improving situation: Statistical data recently released from the Irish Banking Federation has shown that the number of

mortgages issued in the last quarter of 2011 is 3,856, valued at €639 million. This figure is down 31% on the same period of 2010.

32 THE MEADOWS, CLASSES LAKE, OVENS, CO. CORK

021-4873466

€2962.50 divided by 12 = €246.87 (amount due to the applicants in mortgage interest relief each month)

Mortgage interest relief will be completely abolished at the end of 2017.

Continued on page 10.

2012 may prove to be a good year to buy.

12 CITI WEST MEWS, BALLINCOLLIG, CO. CORK

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid.

entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid. This is an increase from the rate proposed by the previous government (15%) making first-time homeowners even better off in a year when prices are keener still.

The rate of interest relief decreases every two to three years until it is finally phased out completely by the end of 2017. Thus, a first-time

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• 3 Bedroom house • Set in a cul-de-sac setting • Close to all amenities It can work out cheaper to buy now rather than rent.

buyer will get 25% back in the first two years.

This figure reduces to 22.5% in years three, four and five and down to 20% in years six and seven.

For non-first-time buyers, the rate is a flat 15%.

On top of that, the government made another change to the system in order to try to lessen the burden on those were unfortunate to have become first-time

buyers during the height of the property boom by extending a certain amount of MIR to those who had bought between 2004 and 2008. This figure is 30% of interest; one which is surely welcome even in the most extreme of cases.

All of this is good news.

It translates into a considerable amount of cash saved if you take out and draw down a

mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013, when you get no Mortgage Interest Relief at all. Curiously, it’s a message that doesn’t seem to have been communicated as well as it might to the potential property owners in the Irish public.

“The problem, I think, for the consumer out there is that the information is quite poor

the next two years, but when they saw that the MIR wasn’t going to finish up until the end of this year, they decided they were going to buy now because firstly, it was going to work out cheaper for them to buy now rather than rent and secondly, they thought that if they’re going to buy, then they might as well buy now and get the benefit of the interest

Price €160,000

28 PRIMROSE HILL, TOWER, BLARNEY, CO. CORK

RELEASING 5 M ORE

CURRENTLY UN DER CONSTRUCTION

• Luxury new 4 bedroom detached homes • High specification finish inc. Solar Panels etc.

• Adjacent to By-Pass, Crèche, Shop, Restaurants, Pharmacy, etc • New completed homes before Mortgage Tax Relief Expires.

Price: €295,000

Price: €145,000

BALLINCOLLIG 021-4873466 MACROOM 026-41244

T

• Superior 5 bedroom detached residence c. 2,500 sq. ft, situated in a walled in site • Incorporating very spacious living accommodation, 3 reception rooms, large kitchen, master bedroom en-suite. • Sought after location.

Price on Application.

5 GALVINS TERRACE, CROOKSTOWN, CO. CORK

• Charming 3 bedroom detached house on corner site, offer spacious enclosed rear garden.

Excellent condition throughout with shower rooms on ground and first floor. • Walking distance to Tower Village, 5 minutes from Blarney.

NEW TO MARKE

• Splendid 3 bedroom end of terrace house • Set on a very large plot of ground • Superbly maintained throughout • Village setting, close to all amenities • Cork City 20 mins

Price: €99,000

7 MANOR LANE, GRANGE MANOR, OVENS, CO. CORK

• Magnificent 3 bedroom 3 storey property with manicured rear garden.

• Overlooking a green area in a quiet cul-de-sac.

• Master bedroom en-suite, guest w,c, gas heating • Viewing a must to appreciate.

Excellent Value

Email:omwreception@eircom.net IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

9

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:42Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:8

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Mortgage Interest Relief extended for home-buyers until end of 2012 MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF The rate of mortgage interest relief available to first time buyers is 25% in year 1 & 2. 22.5% in years 3, 4 & 5 & 20% for years 6 & 7. This is capped at a maximum interest of €10,000 for a single applicant or €20,000 for a joint applicant. This is provided the mortgage is drawn before the end of this year.

For example: A couple taking out a mortgage of €300,000 on a variable rate of 3.95%.

Interest in year 1 = €11,850. (€300,000 multiplied by 3.95% = €11,850)

I

A considerable amount of cash is saved if you take out and draw down a mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013

T'S a strange enough sign of the times but the word “austerity” seems to trip off the tongue far more regularly than expressions like “tax breaks” or even “cash back”. But the new government did pull a welcomed rabbit out of the hat on Budget Day last December when they surprisingly extended the MIR for home-buyers for another year.

Mortgage Interest Relief was meant to be ended as an option to all property buyers at the end of last year but the current administration appear to have recognised the importance of MIR to the property market.

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be

on it.” So says Peter Magee, Director Head of Mortgages at nationwide franchise group Sherry Fitzgerald.

Where the message is getting through, it is having some impact, as Magee explains: “I had a client who rang me to say that they weren’t thinking about buying for

€11,850 multiplied by 25% = €2962.50. (maximum allowance for year 1)

A special rate of 30% for the tax years 2012 to 2017 is being introduced for first-time buyers who bought their sole or main residence for the first time in the years 2004 to 2008 or paid their first mortgage interest payment in this period.

Source: Hawkesworth & Co. Financial Services.

8

you’ll be getting €168.75 back every month in interest relief, it’s a lot of money.”

It’s certainly not to be sniffed at and, as this is

the extension of a scheme that was destined to be closed at the end of 2011, the likelihood of it being further extended at the end of 2012 is unlikely in

the extreme. The reality is that it isn’t always possible for people to do that. The inability and/or unwillingness of banks to lend is still and issue, but

LISHEEN FIELDS, OVENS, CO. CORK

Email:omwrecption@eircom.net

Mortgages taken out after the 31st of December 2012 will not qualify for mortgage interest relief.

Non-first-time buyers in 2012 will get mortgage interest relief at a rate of 15% from 2012 until 2017

relief because it’s good money to have.

“If you’re first-time buyers doing a mortgage of €250,000 and you’re taking a rate of 3.24%,

it’s an improving situation: Statistical data recently released from the Irish Banking Federation has shown that the number of

mortgages issued in the last quarter of 2011 is 3,856, valued at €639 million. This figure is down 31% on the same period of 2010.

32 THE MEADOWS, CLASSES LAKE, OVENS, CO. CORK

021-4873466

€2962.50 divided by 12 = €246.87 (amount due to the applicants in mortgage interest relief each month)

Mortgage interest relief will be completely abolished at the end of 2017.

Continued on page 10.

2012 may prove to be a good year to buy.

12 CITI WEST MEWS, BALLINCOLLIG, CO. CORK

First-time buyers who take out mortgages this year and draw down their mortgage before December 31st will be entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid.

entitled to 25% relief on the interest paid. This is an increase from the rate proposed by the previous government (15%) making first-time homeowners even better off in a year when prices are keener still.

The rate of interest relief decreases every two to three years until it is finally phased out completely by the end of 2017. Thus, a first-time

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• 3 Bedroom house • Set in a cul-de-sac setting • Close to all amenities It can work out cheaper to buy now rather than rent.

buyer will get 25% back in the first two years.

This figure reduces to 22.5% in years three, four and five and down to 20% in years six and seven.

For non-first-time buyers, the rate is a flat 15%.

On top of that, the government made another change to the system in order to try to lessen the burden on those were unfortunate to have become first-time

buyers during the height of the property boom by extending a certain amount of MIR to those who had bought between 2004 and 2008. This figure is 30% of interest; one which is surely welcome even in the most extreme of cases.

All of this is good news.

It translates into a considerable amount of cash saved if you take out and draw down a

mortgage in 2012 as opposed to letting it slide into 2013, when you get no Mortgage Interest Relief at all. Curiously, it’s a message that doesn’t seem to have been communicated as well as it might to the potential property owners in the Irish public.

“The problem, I think, for the consumer out there is that the information is quite poor

the next two years, but when they saw that the MIR wasn’t going to finish up until the end of this year, they decided they were going to buy now because firstly, it was going to work out cheaper for them to buy now rather than rent and secondly, they thought that if they’re going to buy, then they might as well buy now and get the benefit of the interest

Price €160,000

28 PRIMROSE HILL, TOWER, BLARNEY, CO. CORK

RELEASING 5 M ORE

CURRENTLY UN DER CONSTRUCTION

• Luxury new 4 bedroom detached homes • High specification finish inc. Solar Panels etc.

• Adjacent to By-Pass, Crèche, Shop, Restaurants, Pharmacy, etc • New completed homes before Mortgage Tax Relief Expires.

Price: €295,000

Price: €145,000

BALLINCOLLIG 021-4873466 MACROOM 026-41244

T

• Superior 5 bedroom detached residence c. 2,500 sq. ft, situated in a walled in site • Incorporating very spacious living accommodation, 3 reception rooms, large kitchen, master bedroom en-suite. • Sought after location.

Price on Application.

5 GALVINS TERRACE, CROOKSTOWN, CO. CORK

• Charming 3 bedroom detached house on corner site, offer spacious enclosed rear garden.

Excellent condition throughout with shower rooms on ground and first floor. • Walking distance to Tower Village, 5 minutes from Blarney.

NEW TO MARKE

• Splendid 3 bedroom end of terrace house • Set on a very large plot of ground • Superbly maintained throughout • Village setting, close to all amenities • Cork City 20 mins

Price: €99,000

7 MANOR LANE, GRANGE MANOR, OVENS, CO. CORK

• Magnificent 3 bedroom 3 storey property with manicured rear garden.

• Overlooking a green area in a quiet cul-de-sac.

• Master bedroom en-suite, guest w,c, gas heating • Viewing a must to appreciate.

Excellent Value

Email:omwreception@eircom.net IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

9

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MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

No more property ladder, you can now go straight to the top The best thing about the market at present is that first time buyers have the ability to buy into areas they would never have been able to buy first time around.

The first time buyer of today won't need a property Ladder, a 4 bed detached property with garage, for Example, can be secured on the Rochestown Rd in Cork for €250,000.

To rent that particular property will cost €1,000 per month and rising, with no security of tenure or ability to make it your own. To buy this same property, as a couple borrowing 92% (still available) over 35 years will cost you gross €916.25 per month 3.24% Variable Rate 3.29% APR. Subtract the Tax Relief at Source available to a couple and the repayment drops to €757.80 per month.

TRS will not be here next year for first time buyers, a typical property purchase from deposit to receiving keys takes 3 months average, thus, anyone wanting to avail of this would want to start thinking of getting the appropriate documentation together in order to start the application process of getting a mortgage.

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity

Continued from page 9.

T

HE trend, however, is arguably of much more significance and it is encouraging: the figure is up 7% on the previous quarter and it is the third quarter in succession that there has been an increase.

This has not happened since the boom-time year of 2005.

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity that support the trend reported by the IBF: “One thing that we’ve noticed is that the amount of people viewing houses has gone up,” says Joan Henry, Director at

For Further Details: DNG Creedon, Village Green House, Douglas www.dngcreedon.ie www.douglasmortgage.ie Tel 021-4897300

Relief or the fact that banks are lending a bit more or even a combination of both those factors is possible.

“It’s always a positive thing when such a scheme is extended. It was noticeable from our point of view that lending increased in the fourth quarter. The MIR isn’t always the first thing that people mention as being a deciding factor but it is important that it’s there and that it’s being extended.

Buyers are certainly taking advantage of the market at the moment and the first-time buyer is very active right now”

Tax planning a necessity for both personal and corporate taxpayers The recent introduction of new property taxes and levies, combined with increased Capital Tax rates of 30%, has increased the level of tax compliance and the necessity for tax planning for all taxpayers, both personal and corporate.

The reductions in inheritance tax exemption thresholds combined with the 30% Inheritance Tax rate, will trigger substantial tax liabilities . The reduced 2% stamp duty on property transfers together with the potential relief from Capital Gains Tax, on properties acquired and held for two years, should stimulate further activity in the property market from both a commercial perspective and also a tax planning perspective.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs listed below are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs. ● Business and agricultural relief for Inheritance Tax purposes. ● Retirement relief for Capital Gains tax purposes.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs

● Use of corporate structures for professionals, including the medical profession, to reduce tax rates from 55% to 12.5%. ● Effective use of corporate structures and trusts to transfer assets and businesses. ● Use of corporate structures for tax efficient pension funding. ● Tax effective investment structures and products to maximise the after tax return for

surplus funds and saving. ● Tax strategies and exit mechanisms for business disposals and retirement. ● The new Capital Gains Tax exemption for properties purchased and held for at least 7 years should trigger property investment opportunities. ● The recent reduction in Stamp Duty rates for transfer of commercial properties to 2% will make property transfers more financially viable.

Andrew Guerin Associates provides professional tax advice to ensure that ones taxation and financial affairs are structured to fully utilize all available tax reliefs, in order to minimize the tax costs and preserve asset values on businesses transferred to the next generation.

For a free consultation contact Andrew Guerin, CPA AITI at Andrew Guerin Associates E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie Web: www.aguerin.ie Phone: 00 353-21-4840721

• Free Independent Advice • Best Rates for First Time Buyers, Re-mortagage and Buy to let

SERVICES PROVIDED: • Advice on Property tax compliance • Structuring property acquisitions • Tax efficient property disposal strategies • Property transfers including Inheritance Tax and Succession Planning • Debt restructuring and negotiation with Financial Institutions • Negotiations and settlements with Revenue Commissioners

• Group Restructuring • Evaluation of Redundancy program.

• Advice on Business transfers including Inheritance Tax & Capital Gains Tax • Benefits of Company Incorporation • Inheritance Tax planning • Appraisal of Investments

Contact Andrew Guerin – FCPA, AITI for a Free Consultation T +353 (0)21 4840721 / F +353 (0)21 4840726 E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie / www.aguerin.ie A 19 White Street, Georges Quay, Cork, Ireland Authorised Investment Intermediaries 10

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• Unparalleled support, guidance

international property group Savills. “There’s been an increase of almost 25% in January and February alone. I would class that as being a leading indicator.”

“We’re 25% up on viewings compared to the same time last year,” says Sheila O’Flynn of Sherry Fitzgerald in Cork.

Whether or not the increase in activity is a factor of the extension of the Mortgage Interest

Another issue that is playing on the minds of those considering buying a house this year is the realisation of the economic fact that the lower a market has dropped, the safer and more attractive an investment option it becomes. Or, as Joan Henry puts it: “Anyone buying in the market now is not going to be in negative equity; that’s certainly a positive.”

Call Douglas Mortgage Centre on 021 4897300 (available for appointment) or log onto douglasmortgage.ie

Michael Creedon QFA

Michael Creedon (t/a Douglas Mortgage Centre and douglasmortgage.ie) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

11

TERAPROOF:User:timmyherlihyDate:01/03/2012Time:13:07:29Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:10

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

No more property ladder, you can now go straight to the top The best thing about the market at present is that first time buyers have the ability to buy into areas they would never have been able to buy first time around.

The first time buyer of today won't need a property Ladder, a 4 bed detached property with garage, for Example, can be secured on the Rochestown Rd in Cork for €250,000.

To rent that particular property will cost €1,000 per month and rising, with no security of tenure or ability to make it your own. To buy this same property, as a couple borrowing 92% (still available) over 35 years will cost you gross €916.25 per month 3.24% Variable Rate 3.29% APR. Subtract the Tax Relief at Source available to a couple and the repayment drops to €757.80 per month.

TRS will not be here next year for first time buyers, a typical property purchase from deposit to receiving keys takes 3 months average, thus, anyone wanting to avail of this would want to start thinking of getting the appropriate documentation together in order to start the application process of getting a mortgage.

MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF - COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity

Continued from page 9.

T

HE trend, however, is arguably of much more significance and it is encouraging: the figure is up 7% on the previous quarter and it is the third quarter in succession that there has been an increase.

This has not happened since the boom-time year of 2005.

Many agents are reporting increased levels of activity that support the trend reported by the IBF: “One thing that we’ve noticed is that the amount of people viewing houses has gone up,” says Joan Henry, Director at

For Further Details: DNG Creedon, Village Green House, Douglas www.dngcreedon.ie www.douglasmortgage.ie Tel 021-4897300

Relief or the fact that banks are lending a bit more or even a combination of both those factors is possible.

“It’s always a positive thing when such a scheme is extended. It was noticeable from our point of view that lending increased in the fourth quarter. The MIR isn’t always the first thing that people mention as being a deciding factor but it is important that it’s there and that it’s being extended.

Buyers are certainly taking advantage of the market at the moment and the first-time buyer is very active right now”

Tax planning a necessity for both personal and corporate taxpayers The recent introduction of new property taxes and levies, combined with increased Capital Tax rates of 30%, has increased the level of tax compliance and the necessity for tax planning for all taxpayers, both personal and corporate.

The reductions in inheritance tax exemption thresholds combined with the 30% Inheritance Tax rate, will trigger substantial tax liabilities . The reduced 2% stamp duty on property transfers together with the potential relief from Capital Gains Tax, on properties acquired and held for two years, should stimulate further activity in the property market from both a commercial perspective and also a tax planning perspective.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs listed below are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs. ● Business and agricultural relief for Inheritance Tax purposes. ● Retirement relief for Capital Gains tax purposes.

Advance planning ensures that valuable tax reliefs are preserved, minimising taxation and business costs

● Use of corporate structures for professionals, including the medical profession, to reduce tax rates from 55% to 12.5%. ● Effective use of corporate structures and trusts to transfer assets and businesses. ● Use of corporate structures for tax efficient pension funding. ● Tax effective investment structures and products to maximise the after tax return for

surplus funds and saving. ● Tax strategies and exit mechanisms for business disposals and retirement. ● The new Capital Gains Tax exemption for properties purchased and held for at least 7 years should trigger property investment opportunities. ● The recent reduction in Stamp Duty rates for transfer of commercial properties to 2% will make property transfers more financially viable.

Andrew Guerin Associates provides professional tax advice to ensure that ones taxation and financial affairs are structured to fully utilize all available tax reliefs, in order to minimize the tax costs and preserve asset values on businesses transferred to the next generation.

For a free consultation contact Andrew Guerin, CPA AITI at Andrew Guerin Associates E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie Web: www.aguerin.ie Phone: 00 353-21-4840721

• Free Independent Advice • Best Rates for First Time Buyers, Re-mortagage and Buy to let

SERVICES PROVIDED: • Advice on Property tax compliance • Structuring property acquisitions • Tax efficient property disposal strategies • Property transfers including Inheritance Tax and Succession Planning • Debt restructuring and negotiation with Financial Institutions • Negotiations and settlements with Revenue Commissioners

• Group Restructuring • Evaluation of Redundancy program.

• Advice on Business transfers including Inheritance Tax & Capital Gains Tax • Benefits of Company Incorporation • Inheritance Tax planning • Appraisal of Investments

Contact Andrew Guerin – FCPA, AITI for a Free Consultation T +353 (0)21 4840721 / F +353 (0)21 4840726 E: andrew.guerin@aguerin.ie / www.aguerin.ie A 19 White Street, Georges Quay, Cork, Ireland Authorised Investment Intermediaries 10

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

• Unparalleled support, guidance

international property group Savills. “There’s been an increase of almost 25% in January and February alone. I would class that as being a leading indicator.”

“We’re 25% up on viewings compared to the same time last year,” says Sheila O’Flynn of Sherry Fitzgerald in Cork.

Whether or not the increase in activity is a factor of the extension of the Mortgage Interest

Another issue that is playing on the minds of those considering buying a house this year is the realisation of the economic fact that the lower a market has dropped, the safer and more attractive an investment option it becomes. Or, as Joan Henry puts it: “Anyone buying in the market now is not going to be in negative equity; that’s certainly a positive.”

Call Douglas Mortgage Centre on 021 4897300 (available for appointment) or log onto douglasmortgage.ie

Michael Creedon QFA

Michael Creedon (t/a Douglas Mortgage Centre and douglasmortgage.ie) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY FEATURE

PROPERTY FEATURE

Distinctive Kedges has family appeal

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best asset:

Built back in 1926, this distinctive home off the Douglas Road in Cork, has plenty to offer, Tommy Barker reports

Douglas, Cork €720,000 300 sq m(3,300 sq ft) 6/7 Pending Yes Location and quality

Pictures: Denis Scannell

T

HE great family home Kedges has been like one of those ‘ Cut and Come Again’ plants that keeps on giving — it’s about to yield up its fifth individual house in its original, suburban Cork gardens.

And, that’s probably highly appropriate as this Douglas Road spot was home for years to market gardens stretching from the main to the back Douglas roads in this setting, little over a mile from Cork city centre.

One of the more distinctive detached houses along the Douglas Road, by the entrance to Rosebank estate, this 1926-built home with some faux Tudor touches, originally stood on three acres of gardens.

In its 80-plus years it’s had a good few owners: it included familiar ‘Cork’ family surnames like Thompson, Downes, Crosbie and Cudmores — the latter when themselves trading-down built a bungalow just to the south. Other extended family members also got house sites, all accessed off Rosebank.

Now, coming up once more for the first time in 25 years, its current family of occupants are again trading down — and building, thanks to Kedges’ generous measures.

Retired medical consultant Liam Mundow snapped up this house when it came for sale back in 1987, and reared a family in it, now all grown and flown. So, he’s set to build a bungalow on a remaining portion of the gardens he tended for decades: “We grew 17 types of vegetable here, we fed the house from the garden,” he points out.

Even as he takes his rightful site the distinctive Kedges has becomes available again on a still-fine footprint, now down to half an acre — but even that’s a privilege to get your hands on in this location.

The house, about to burst into wisteria and virginia-creeper cloaking, is towards the back of its site, closer to the road, which means the bulk of the garden is on the warm, southern side, with a swathe of old limestone paving for a large sun terrace before raised beds (built in old, cobblestones).Then there’s a quarter acre of verdant lawn, ringed by hedges, shrubs and trees which took off skywards since the gardens last got divvied out.

Kedges comes along as a fascinating prospect, with agent

12

Clare O’Sullivan of Savills, who guides it at €720,000 — a price which certainly should draw viewings — and not just from the curious.

While lots of it are gloriously oldfashioned, it’s still superbly comfortable and can take a family of any size — there’s scope for six, seven bedrooms, since the place was extended decades ago.

That extension holds three bedrooms plus shower room/ bathroom, and downstairs what used to be called ‘the ballroom,’ now a very large lounge with double aspect, garden access, and easily enough space in a space in a corner to hide a baby grand piano.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels, in a manner often overlooked by designers and builders: all of its best rooms are the back, facing south and full of sun and likely to be warm, while halls, corridors and service rooms/ bathrooms are to the north-facing side. It’s a floor plan as clever and relevant today as it was 90 years ago when built, is an idea that dates back to the ancient Greeks, and seems to have got forgotten as often as it got rediscovered. It works, brilliantly. Still.

So that ballroom/lounge, the main drawing room, the dining room and the kitchen/breakfast

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room all get to have a favourable sunny aspect, as do all of the main bedrooms above.

The master bedroom is large, bright, draws in the sound of birdsong from the gardens and has a large dressing room with lots of storage, and, separately, a goodsized en suite.

There’s no fewer than five bathrooms/WCs in all in the house, and a bit of a small scene stealer is the art nouveau-style stained glass door to the ground floor’s guest WC, set against a backdrop of a fully wood-panelled entrance hall.

That hall picks up the Tudor theme of some of Kedges part-timbered exterior, and while it’s full of character, gives an immediate appearance of being dark, something not borne out in the rest of this great home. (The hall floor is in very narrow strips of oak, while wider oak boards adorn other ground level rooms.)

While Kedges has been very wellmaintained, and recent-enough spending includes replacement windows on the south side, underpinning and drains work, it hasn’t been overcooked. The original steel windows, to the north side have been kept, for example — it preserves the character to the roadway — and rooms on the other side are bathrooms and utilities, so wouldn’t be overheated in any case.

The kitchen is a sort of 1970s work, entirely functional, but in dark timbers that won’t find too much favour with 21st century buyers.

As Kedges comes up for sale now in the midst of a market downturn, it may well be to its advantage as a place of considerable architectural integrity. If sold 10 years ago it would have been gutted or knocked, razed for sites (that happened a near contemporary, a house called Overton a couple of doors away.)

Now, it still holds its head high, and most buyers are more inclined to take further spending on their acquisitions a bit more cautiously than heretofore.

You could go into Kedges with high ambitions to lash out money, and find it quickly grows on you, asking to be left damn well enough alone, and to get on to rearing another family as it comes up to its 100th birthday in around 15 years time.

VERDICT: It’s a good one: Time to finance the Kedge-fund.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:13:05:24Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:12

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

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PROPERTY FEATURE

PROPERTY FEATURE

Distinctive Kedges has family appeal

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: Best asset:

Built back in 1926, this distinctive home off the Douglas Road in Cork, has plenty to offer, Tommy Barker reports

Douglas, Cork €720,000 300 sq m(3,300 sq ft) 6/7 Pending Yes Location and quality

Pictures: Denis Scannell

T

HE great family home Kedges has been like one of those ‘ Cut and Come Again’ plants that keeps on giving — it’s about to yield up its fifth individual house in its original, suburban Cork gardens.

And, that’s probably highly appropriate as this Douglas Road spot was home for years to market gardens stretching from the main to the back Douglas roads in this setting, little over a mile from Cork city centre.

One of the more distinctive detached houses along the Douglas Road, by the entrance to Rosebank estate, this 1926-built home with some faux Tudor touches, originally stood on three acres of gardens.

In its 80-plus years it’s had a good few owners: it included familiar ‘Cork’ family surnames like Thompson, Downes, Crosbie and Cudmores — the latter when themselves trading-down built a bungalow just to the south. Other extended family members also got house sites, all accessed off Rosebank.

Now, coming up once more for the first time in 25 years, its current family of occupants are again trading down — and building, thanks to Kedges’ generous measures.

Retired medical consultant Liam Mundow snapped up this house when it came for sale back in 1987, and reared a family in it, now all grown and flown. So, he’s set to build a bungalow on a remaining portion of the gardens he tended for decades: “We grew 17 types of vegetable here, we fed the house from the garden,” he points out.

Even as he takes his rightful site the distinctive Kedges has becomes available again on a still-fine footprint, now down to half an acre — but even that’s a privilege to get your hands on in this location.

The house, about to burst into wisteria and virginia-creeper cloaking, is towards the back of its site, closer to the road, which means the bulk of the garden is on the warm, southern side, with a swathe of old limestone paving for a large sun terrace before raised beds (built in old, cobblestones).Then there’s a quarter acre of verdant lawn, ringed by hedges, shrubs and trees which took off skywards since the gardens last got divvied out.

Kedges comes along as a fascinating prospect, with agent

12

Clare O’Sullivan of Savills, who guides it at €720,000 — a price which certainly should draw viewings — and not just from the curious.

While lots of it are gloriously oldfashioned, it’s still superbly comfortable and can take a family of any size — there’s scope for six, seven bedrooms, since the place was extended decades ago.

That extension holds three bedrooms plus shower room/ bathroom, and downstairs what used to be called ‘the ballroom,’ now a very large lounge with double aspect, garden access, and easily enough space in a space in a corner to hide a baby grand piano.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels, in a manner often overlooked by designers and builders: all of its best rooms are the back, facing south and full of sun and likely to be warm, while halls, corridors and service rooms/ bathrooms are to the north-facing side. It’s a floor plan as clever and relevant today as it was 90 years ago when built, is an idea that dates back to the ancient Greeks, and seems to have got forgotten as often as it got rediscovered. It works, brilliantly. Still.

So that ballroom/lounge, the main drawing room, the dining room and the kitchen/breakfast

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room all get to have a favourable sunny aspect, as do all of the main bedrooms above.

The master bedroom is large, bright, draws in the sound of birdsong from the gardens and has a large dressing room with lots of storage, and, separately, a goodsized en suite.

There’s no fewer than five bathrooms/WCs in all in the house, and a bit of a small scene stealer is the art nouveau-style stained glass door to the ground floor’s guest WC, set against a backdrop of a fully wood-panelled entrance hall.

That hall picks up the Tudor theme of some of Kedges part-timbered exterior, and while it’s full of character, gives an immediate appearance of being dark, something not borne out in the rest of this great home. (The hall floor is in very narrow strips of oak, while wider oak boards adorn other ground level rooms.)

While Kedges has been very wellmaintained, and recent-enough spending includes replacement windows on the south side, underpinning and drains work, it hasn’t been overcooked. The original steel windows, to the north side have been kept, for example — it preserves the character to the roadway — and rooms on the other side are bathrooms and utilities, so wouldn’t be overheated in any case.

The kitchen is a sort of 1970s work, entirely functional, but in dark timbers that won’t find too much favour with 21st century buyers.

As Kedges comes up for sale now in the midst of a market downturn, it may well be to its advantage as a place of considerable architectural integrity. If sold 10 years ago it would have been gutted or knocked, razed for sites (that happened a near contemporary, a house called Overton a couple of doors away.)

Now, it still holds its head high, and most buyers are more inclined to take further spending on their acquisitions a bit more cautiously than heretofore.

You could go into Kedges with high ambitions to lash out money, and find it quickly grows on you, asking to be left damn well enough alone, and to get on to rearing another family as it comes up to its 100th birthday in around 15 years time.

VERDICT: It’s a good one: Time to finance the Kedge-fund.

Kedges has the stamp of an architect’s hand, making best use of a simple floor plan at both its levels IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY

Something in the air

The Cedars has that indefinable element that makes a house a home, Rose Martin reports

T

Pictures: Denis Scannell

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PROPERTY FEATURE

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Coachford, Co Cork €295,000 252 sq m (2,700 sq ft) 6 C1 Yes

Not to be overlooked

With an unrivalled site, oodles of space and a contemporary look with cedar trim, No 3 Kings Wood is ready to move into, writes Tommy Barker

HERE are some houses that just have it — an indefinable element that makes the difference between a house and

a home.

And it’s not about styling, or lack of it, or tidiness or a laissez faire attitude — it’s more about atmosphere.

The Cedars, at Nadrid, Coachford, has that special feel the minute you set foot in the door.

At first glance, it’s a modest house and a quick glance from the road makes it hard to define, it’s a ‘50s build, but modern and large, though not brash.

And it sits on a 0.7 acre site, but the casual passer by won’t know that either — you have to be inside, looking out to get the full effect.

The Cedars sits in the middle of its site with gardens on the sunny side and hard standing and plenty of parking at the northern, entrance point.

The house is a six-bed with a remarkable four en-suite bedrooms, a range of living rooms and a kitchencum-dining room with great storage, internally and in the detached garage.

This isn’t a fussy or staged house, it doesn’t have a discernible style, it’s not self-consciously anything other than a very well laid out family home.

There’s a bathroom for everyone and with three separate living rooms, the likelihood of remote control turf wars is diminished too.

The rooms follow the sun around, with a large patio for the midday sun, directly off the large dining room. This is a step down from the kitchen area and curiously has a second, spiral

staircase leading to the master bedroom overhead, which along with the small nursery bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe/storage area, makes a complete, self-contained suite.

The flexibility of space is a major selling point — proven by the vendors who manage three generations very comfortably under one roof. It’s that

kind of house.

Jeremy Murphy and Associates is inviting offers in the region of just €295,000 for this ready to go home.

VERDICT: A walk to Coachford village, and with a safe, enclosed garden that’s softly landscaped, this is certainly a house to see. Good views too.

C

OMING into the very top end of Waterford’s breakfast area. Then, there’s also a utility, and trading up market is what’s reckoned to one of separate family room — more than enough to fit any the city’s best modern family homes — No 3, family’s bill, says Ms Fogarty.

Kings Wood in handy Ballinakill.

There’s a strong impression a good designer’s hand There’s only six large detached houses here, built at work here, and the living room just off the kitchen, about five years ago, and selling agent Margaret and the dining room, each have feature ful-height Fogarty of Remax reckons No 3 has possibly the best corner windows, with glazed hardwood sliding doors site, as it’s not overlooked — in fact, it does a bit of so that “there’s as good a flow inside and outside as overlooking itself. there is inside from It has oodles of space, about room to room,” Location: Ballinakill, Waterford 3,400 sq ft in all, but that enthuses the agent.

Price: €625,000 includes a large, open plan Ceiling heights are second floor suitable for lots about 9’, and there’s a Size: 320 sq m (3,425 sq ft) of uses, finished out but as central vacuum system Bedrooms: 5 yet unpurposed. It would plus video-controlled make a great den, recreation access, with wiring for BER rating: Pending room or sumptuous suite, surround sound and suggests Ms Fogarty. broadband. There are Broadband: Yes Next floor down is home to quality finishes Best feature: As good outside as inside five bedrooms, with a great throughout, from oak master bedroom with walkjoinery and oak door, through dressing room and a large en suite bathroom stairs and doors, to marble hall floors, and the hall is with corner bath, all decked out in creamy, neutral open and airy, with all the main rooms flowing off it. tiles for a crisp, contemporary look.

Exterior facade treatments include render, cedar and The house has four bathrooms in all, with concrete brick, with a balcony with stainless steel rail off one slab floors adding to its solidness and sound-proofing: of the main upstairs rooms. built to last, approves its selling agent who says it’s The pristine gardens, meanwhile, ready to burst into one of the finest properties to come to the Waterford exuberant life, include tiered, sloped and raised beds, market in recent times (she might have some perimeter planting and a cobble paved patio, with a opposition with the owners and selling agents of No 1 key South-West aspect to the rear of the house paved.

Kings Wood nearby, with 3,500 sq ft and a fully There’s also parking for four cars in front, plus a finished top floor guiding at €790,000!) detached block-built garage with pitched roof.

No 3 has underfloor heating, and a great flow of VERDICT: A really good house, simple as. All settled rooms through its ground level with a big sitting down on its site, ready to move into, in a very popular room, dining room, a kitchen with island, and Waterford setting near the regional hospital.

14

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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PROPERTY

Something in the air

The Cedars has that indefinable element that makes a house a home, Rose Martin reports

T

Pictures: Denis Scannell

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PROPERTY FEATURE

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Coachford, Co Cork €295,000 252 sq m (2,700 sq ft) 6 C1 Yes

Not to be overlooked

With an unrivalled site, oodles of space and a contemporary look with cedar trim, No 3 Kings Wood is ready to move into, writes Tommy Barker

HERE are some houses that just have it — an indefinable element that makes the difference between a house and

a home.

And it’s not about styling, or lack of it, or tidiness or a laissez faire attitude — it’s more about atmosphere.

The Cedars, at Nadrid, Coachford, has that special feel the minute you set foot in the door.

At first glance, it’s a modest house and a quick glance from the road makes it hard to define, it’s a ‘50s build, but modern and large, though not brash.

And it sits on a 0.7 acre site, but the casual passer by won’t know that either — you have to be inside, looking out to get the full effect.

The Cedars sits in the middle of its site with gardens on the sunny side and hard standing and plenty of parking at the northern, entrance point.

The house is a six-bed with a remarkable four en-suite bedrooms, a range of living rooms and a kitchencum-dining room with great storage, internally and in the detached garage.

This isn’t a fussy or staged house, it doesn’t have a discernible style, it’s not self-consciously anything other than a very well laid out family home.

There’s a bathroom for everyone and with three separate living rooms, the likelihood of remote control turf wars is diminished too.

The rooms follow the sun around, with a large patio for the midday sun, directly off the large dining room. This is a step down from the kitchen area and curiously has a second, spiral

staircase leading to the master bedroom overhead, which along with the small nursery bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe/storage area, makes a complete, self-contained suite.

The flexibility of space is a major selling point — proven by the vendors who manage three generations very comfortably under one roof. It’s that

kind of house.

Jeremy Murphy and Associates is inviting offers in the region of just €295,000 for this ready to go home.

VERDICT: A walk to Coachford village, and with a safe, enclosed garden that’s softly landscaped, this is certainly a house to see. Good views too.

C

OMING into the very top end of Waterford’s breakfast area. Then, there’s also a utility, and trading up market is what’s reckoned to one of separate family room — more than enough to fit any the city’s best modern family homes — No 3, family’s bill, says Ms Fogarty.

Kings Wood in handy Ballinakill.

There’s a strong impression a good designer’s hand There’s only six large detached houses here, built at work here, and the living room just off the kitchen, about five years ago, and selling agent Margaret and the dining room, each have feature ful-height Fogarty of Remax reckons No 3 has possibly the best corner windows, with glazed hardwood sliding doors site, as it’s not overlooked — in fact, it does a bit of so that “there’s as good a flow inside and outside as overlooking itself. there is inside from It has oodles of space, about room to room,” Location: Ballinakill, Waterford 3,400 sq ft in all, but that enthuses the agent.

Price: €625,000 includes a large, open plan Ceiling heights are second floor suitable for lots about 9’, and there’s a Size: 320 sq m (3,425 sq ft) of uses, finished out but as central vacuum system Bedrooms: 5 yet unpurposed. It would plus video-controlled make a great den, recreation access, with wiring for BER rating: Pending room or sumptuous suite, surround sound and suggests Ms Fogarty. broadband. There are Broadband: Yes Next floor down is home to quality finishes Best feature: As good outside as inside five bedrooms, with a great throughout, from oak master bedroom with walkjoinery and oak door, through dressing room and a large en suite bathroom stairs and doors, to marble hall floors, and the hall is with corner bath, all decked out in creamy, neutral open and airy, with all the main rooms flowing off it. tiles for a crisp, contemporary look.

Exterior facade treatments include render, cedar and The house has four bathrooms in all, with concrete brick, with a balcony with stainless steel rail off one slab floors adding to its solidness and sound-proofing: of the main upstairs rooms. built to last, approves its selling agent who says it’s The pristine gardens, meanwhile, ready to burst into one of the finest properties to come to the Waterford exuberant life, include tiered, sloped and raised beds, market in recent times (she might have some perimeter planting and a cobble paved patio, with a opposition with the owners and selling agents of No 1 key South-West aspect to the rear of the house paved.

Kings Wood nearby, with 3,500 sq ft and a fully There’s also parking for four cars in front, plus a finished top floor guiding at €790,000!) detached block-built garage with pitched roof.

No 3 has underfloor heating, and a great flow of VERDICT: A really good house, simple as. All settled rooms through its ground level with a big sitting down on its site, ready to move into, in a very popular room, dining room, a kitchen with island, and Waterford setting near the regional hospital.

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Safe harbour: the romance of life on the waterfront

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

Great Island, Cork Harbour €3 million 740 sq m (8,000 sq ft) 7 plus two lodges Exempt Sublime

In its 200 years, East Grove, on Cork’s Great Island, has had owners of many nationalities including the Glucksmans, says Tommy Barker

I

Pictures: Denis Scannell

S EAST GROVE the most romantic house in Ireland? Well, its caretaker Edward O’Riordan thinks so. He’s been working here since 1986, when he was aged 15 — and several years ago, he met and married the artist Brenda Kelly, when she came to paint a mural here for philanthropic owners, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman.

Brenda’s murals adorn the walls of the indoor swimming pool among East Grove’s wonderful, wooded 14 acres — and she and Edward are now proud parents of a 13-month-old Juliette, who has free rein on the lawns of this great harbour home, newly up for sale.

East Grove, on Great Island near Cobh in Cork harbour, became home to the former 1980s Lehman bank CEO, Lewis Glucksman, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman when they bought it in the late 1990s from the eccentric, vagabonding German/US/Irish family, the Kellys — who had ringed East Grove with security measures and burly guards.

Edward says “the Gluckmans were the best owners in my time, nearly all of the owners improved it in some way or another and invested in it, but the Glucksmans did the most, and enjoyed it the best.”

On a waterfront site in Cork harbour, the picturesque cottage, gothic-style East Grove dates to the early 1800s, and was first associated with the Bagwell family, staying in generations of family hands until the 1950s. Since then, it has had Irish, English, American, Dutch, German and Lebanese owners, with the Gluckmans bringing a Hungarian link. Lew Glucksman — who spent most of his later years in East Grove and its gardens — died aged 80 in 2006, and now with declining usage, Loretta Brennan Glucksman has decided to sell.

She is third-generation Irish-

16

American, and headed up the American Ireland Fund around the time the couple bought and renovated East Grove.

Their philanthropic supports included Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, where Lew had studied, as well as TCD and UL, and an academic chair at the University of Aberdeen. The powerful couple were significant donors to UCC’s award-winning and architecturally acclaimed art

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

gallery, named the Glucksman Gallery, notes former president Gerry Wrixon who said they made great use of East Grove.

As it comes up for sale in 2012, it is pretty as any picture, an artfully balanced package, and is going to be one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

In keeping with its past 50 years of international ownership, its new residents could come from anywhere — Russia, England, the US, India,

China — or Cork. The city’s only 15 miles, or 30 minutes, away, the airport a little further on, and there’s the private jetty for those who like to travel by boat.

As it waits for a new chapter of ownership, aspiring buyers might like to know some of its older history, too: attached to the northern end of the elegant, understated, low-slung, twostorey building is a rounded tower structure, a polygon, home to a quite imposing formal dining room with ornate plasterwork, while directly overhead a former bedroom has now been made over to library status by the Gluckmans; it’s one of this fine house’s finest spaces.

East Grove comes to market in great health, inside and out, on 14 acres, with the house tucked into the north-east corner, and with several hundred metres of shoreline.

That vital water aspect includes two small boathouses, two safe docks ringed in stone, and a pontoon capable of accommodating several craft.

Lewis Glucksman was an old salt, and had served in the US Navy in WW2, as a teenage volunteer. His interest in boats is commemorated in East Grove by a haul of nautical and naval memorabilia and artworks, as well as by a painting of one of his boats, the 45’ Lugh IV, in pride of place on one of the dining room walls. It was painted by Brenda, who was also commissioned to paint some of Lew’s other passions.

Represented on the walls in modest-sized works here are Lugh IV, New York’s Twin Towers, a collection of books and East Grove itself.

Also with a longer, bolder naval link is the name plaque on the rounded tower’s front, marked ‘Trafalgar 1805,’ recalling Admiral Nelson’s signal Napoleonic war sea victory, while another folly, a tall stone tower by the walled

Keeper: East Grove’s caretaker Edward O’Riordan has tended the property since 1986. He’s pictured by a swimming pool wall mural painted by Brenda Kelly — whom he met, wooed and wed at East Grove.

garden, is called the Waterloo Tower, after a subsequent battering of Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

Selling agents for East Grove are Dominic Daly in Cork City, who has handled the last several successful sales of what is assuredly one of Cork’s (if not Munster’s,) best properties, jointly with Harriet Grant of Knight Frank in Dublin City.

Guide price is €3 million, which also makes it one of the stronger market offerings of the moment — but it’s a good ’un, a quite perfect package.

Location is picture-perfect, at the sheltered Cork harbour tidal inlet of East Ferry, on the east side of Great Island, a backwater reached via Marlogue and Cuskinny, with

oyster farming nearby — and all the signs of rich mussel beds, as well as sea birds who use East Grove’s paved areas to smash open mollusc shells.

There’s a constant sweeping up of shells, says Edward, who started at East Grove when he was sent here to sweep leaves.

And stayed.

Lots of leaves.

Now, he knows and cares for just about every rood and perch of its 14 acres, and every floorboard of the built properties.

They include a two-bed gate lodge by the half-mile-long wooded approach drive past a stone arch, while a walking route circles the grounds, linking up with the tennis court, paddocks and newly

enclosed swimming pool, built with glulam beams and triple glazing, with its solid wall adorned by woodland murals

by Brenda.

Trees here are specimen status, and include rhododendron, laurel, oak, beech, pines, macrocarpa or Monterey cypress, magnolia, ash and limes. The more recent planting was by previous owner Jack Oppenheim, and by the Glucksmans, who also made sure the walled garden and orchard were maintained, fruiting and productive (the list of soft fruits grown would fill a column).

In addition to the boathouses and gate lodge, there’s an excellent-quality one-bedroom, two-storey guest cottage by the

lofted and cobbled stable yard, with three stables, tack room, work room and a large coachhouse, recently reroofed after the rare snows of two winters ago brought the old one down.

And, like parts of the main house, the yard’s buildings are draped in climbing plants like wisteria and Virginia creeper, with stems as thick as tree trunks.

Every part of East Grove is redolent of graceful age and thoughtful care, the main house most of all. It’s in quite excellent order, decoratively and otherwise, and dressed to impress.

As the departing family have already taken most of what’s important to them, there’s the

option to buy East Grove complete, with furniture, paintings, and more — ready to move into, by negotiation.

When last put up for sale, East Grove had nine bedrooms; now that tally is reduced to seven, as other uses have been found for some, but, in any case, it is an accommodating and adaptable home, with new oil-heating boiler, and working window shutters in the main.

There doesn’t seem to be a room that hasn’t been looked after in the past decade, and decor is low-key, appropriate, and in keeping with aged stone and timber floors, huge fireplaces and lots and lots of French doors and tall windows.

Adding to the house’s overall bright and >>>

As East Grove comes up for sale, it is pretty as a picture, an artfully balanced package, one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Safe harbour: the romance of life on the waterfront

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

Great Island, Cork Harbour €3 million 740 sq m (8,000 sq ft) 7 plus two lodges Exempt Sublime

In its 200 years, East Grove, on Cork’s Great Island, has had owners of many nationalities including the Glucksmans, says Tommy Barker

I

Pictures: Denis Scannell

S EAST GROVE the most romantic house in Ireland? Well, its caretaker Edward O’Riordan thinks so. He’s been working here since 1986, when he was aged 15 — and several years ago, he met and married the artist Brenda Kelly, when she came to paint a mural here for philanthropic owners, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman.

Brenda’s murals adorn the walls of the indoor swimming pool among East Grove’s wonderful, wooded 14 acres — and she and Edward are now proud parents of a 13-month-old Juliette, who has free rein on the lawns of this great harbour home, newly up for sale.

East Grove, on Great Island near Cobh in Cork harbour, became home to the former 1980s Lehman bank CEO, Lewis Glucksman, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman when they bought it in the late 1990s from the eccentric, vagabonding German/US/Irish family, the Kellys — who had ringed East Grove with security measures and burly guards.

Edward says “the Gluckmans were the best owners in my time, nearly all of the owners improved it in some way or another and invested in it, but the Glucksmans did the most, and enjoyed it the best.”

On a waterfront site in Cork harbour, the picturesque cottage, gothic-style East Grove dates to the early 1800s, and was first associated with the Bagwell family, staying in generations of family hands until the 1950s. Since then, it has had Irish, English, American, Dutch, German and Lebanese owners, with the Gluckmans bringing a Hungarian link. Lew Glucksman — who spent most of his later years in East Grove and its gardens — died aged 80 in 2006, and now with declining usage, Loretta Brennan Glucksman has decided to sell.

She is third-generation Irish-

16

American, and headed up the American Ireland Fund around the time the couple bought and renovated East Grove.

Their philanthropic supports included Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, where Lew had studied, as well as TCD and UL, and an academic chair at the University of Aberdeen. The powerful couple were significant donors to UCC’s award-winning and architecturally acclaimed art

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

gallery, named the Glucksman Gallery, notes former president Gerry Wrixon who said they made great use of East Grove.

As it comes up for sale in 2012, it is pretty as any picture, an artfully balanced package, and is going to be one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

In keeping with its past 50 years of international ownership, its new residents could come from anywhere — Russia, England, the US, India,

China — or Cork. The city’s only 15 miles, or 30 minutes, away, the airport a little further on, and there’s the private jetty for those who like to travel by boat.

As it waits for a new chapter of ownership, aspiring buyers might like to know some of its older history, too: attached to the northern end of the elegant, understated, low-slung, twostorey building is a rounded tower structure, a polygon, home to a quite imposing formal dining room with ornate plasterwork, while directly overhead a former bedroom has now been made over to library status by the Gluckmans; it’s one of this fine house’s finest spaces.

East Grove comes to market in great health, inside and out, on 14 acres, with the house tucked into the north-east corner, and with several hundred metres of shoreline.

That vital water aspect includes two small boathouses, two safe docks ringed in stone, and a pontoon capable of accommodating several craft.

Lewis Glucksman was an old salt, and had served in the US Navy in WW2, as a teenage volunteer. His interest in boats is commemorated in East Grove by a haul of nautical and naval memorabilia and artworks, as well as by a painting of one of his boats, the 45’ Lugh IV, in pride of place on one of the dining room walls. It was painted by Brenda, who was also commissioned to paint some of Lew’s other passions.

Represented on the walls in modest-sized works here are Lugh IV, New York’s Twin Towers, a collection of books and East Grove itself.

Also with a longer, bolder naval link is the name plaque on the rounded tower’s front, marked ‘Trafalgar 1805,’ recalling Admiral Nelson’s signal Napoleonic war sea victory, while another folly, a tall stone tower by the walled

Keeper: East Grove’s caretaker Edward O’Riordan has tended the property since 1986. He’s pictured by a swimming pool wall mural painted by Brenda Kelly — whom he met, wooed and wed at East Grove.

garden, is called the Waterloo Tower, after a subsequent battering of Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

Selling agents for East Grove are Dominic Daly in Cork City, who has handled the last several successful sales of what is assuredly one of Cork’s (if not Munster’s,) best properties, jointly with Harriet Grant of Knight Frank in Dublin City.

Guide price is €3 million, which also makes it one of the stronger market offerings of the moment — but it’s a good ’un, a quite perfect package.

Location is picture-perfect, at the sheltered Cork harbour tidal inlet of East Ferry, on the east side of Great Island, a backwater reached via Marlogue and Cuskinny, with

oyster farming nearby — and all the signs of rich mussel beds, as well as sea birds who use East Grove’s paved areas to smash open mollusc shells.

There’s a constant sweeping up of shells, says Edward, who started at East Grove when he was sent here to sweep leaves.

And stayed.

Lots of leaves.

Now, he knows and cares for just about every rood and perch of its 14 acres, and every floorboard of the built properties.

They include a two-bed gate lodge by the half-mile-long wooded approach drive past a stone arch, while a walking route circles the grounds, linking up with the tennis court, paddocks and newly

enclosed swimming pool, built with glulam beams and triple glazing, with its solid wall adorned by woodland murals

by Brenda.

Trees here are specimen status, and include rhododendron, laurel, oak, beech, pines, macrocarpa or Monterey cypress, magnolia, ash and limes. The more recent planting was by previous owner Jack Oppenheim, and by the Glucksmans, who also made sure the walled garden and orchard were maintained, fruiting and productive (the list of soft fruits grown would fill a column).

In addition to the boathouses and gate lodge, there’s an excellent-quality one-bedroom, two-storey guest cottage by the

lofted and cobbled stable yard, with three stables, tack room, work room and a large coachhouse, recently reroofed after the rare snows of two winters ago brought the old one down.

And, like parts of the main house, the yard’s buildings are draped in climbing plants like wisteria and Virginia creeper, with stems as thick as tree trunks.

Every part of East Grove is redolent of graceful age and thoughtful care, the main house most of all. It’s in quite excellent order, decoratively and otherwise, and dressed to impress.

As the departing family have already taken most of what’s important to them, there’s the

option to buy East Grove complete, with furniture, paintings, and more — ready to move into, by negotiation.

When last put up for sale, East Grove had nine bedrooms; now that tally is reduced to seven, as other uses have been found for some, but, in any case, it is an accommodating and adaptable home, with new oil-heating boiler, and working window shutters in the main.

There doesn’t seem to be a room that hasn’t been looked after in the past decade, and decor is low-key, appropriate, and in keeping with aged stone and timber floors, huge fireplaces and lots and lots of French doors and tall windows.

Adding to the house’s overall bright and >>>

As East Grove comes up for sale, it is pretty as a picture, an artfully balanced package, one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them 1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Niche work — if you can get it done professionally.

This arch is adorned by a rustic mural

2 Frame it. Art around a door frame will catch the eye every time you pass through

3 Because you’ve urned it.

Old garden urns and ornaments create appropriate focal points

4 Leave a mark. A painting of one of Lew Gluckmans’ boats is given pride of place in a dining room wall panel

5 Get knotted. This house’s water frontage is noted in this speed limit restriction for marine craft

6 French doors and a balcony off a bedroom are the way to enjoy a view like this

>>> healthy feel is the enclosed central atrium, separating the formal, main reception rooms (which face east) from the west-facing smaller private rooms.

The house, incidentally, has three staircases, so getting around is never hard, plus there’s a lift for those with mobility issues, or loads to tote.

Main rooms here all look towards the water (the compromise of the house’s open aspect is that it is prominent to those passing in boats and through picturesque East Ferry across the way): those rooms include one of the two studies, the smaller of the two libraries, and the immense 32’ by 23’ drawing room with Adam-style fireplace, graceful arch and bay window.

To the house’s far end, in the curvaceous Trafalgar Tower, is the 650 sq ft dining

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room, with ornate plasterwork in high ceilings, set off by a 6’ tall black marble chimney piece, and with three sets of French doors to the gardens.

Off outside, nearby, is a walled yard, ornamental pond with fountain, and lawns separately planted with bluebells and daffodils: the next few month are East Grove’s glory days in the gardens, says O’Riordan, who’s seen 26 years of change, and seasonality, here.

As East Grove comes afresh to market, with the setting the equal of the house in a quite perfect package, lovers of stunninglylocated houses might entertain dreams of significant Lotto wins: if there’s any justice, the winning ticket will be in O’Riordan’s young family hands.

If not, he may be willing to work on for another while yet.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them 1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Niche work — if you can get it done professionally.

This arch is adorned by a rustic mural

2 Frame it. Art around a door frame will catch the eye every time you pass through

3 Because you’ve urned it.

Old garden urns and ornaments create appropriate focal points

4 Leave a mark. A painting of one of Lew Gluckmans’ boats is given pride of place in a dining room wall panel

5 Get knotted. This house’s water frontage is noted in this speed limit restriction for marine craft

6 French doors and a balcony off a bedroom are the way to enjoy a view like this

>>> healthy feel is the enclosed central atrium, separating the formal, main reception rooms (which face east) from the west-facing smaller private rooms.

The house, incidentally, has three staircases, so getting around is never hard, plus there’s a lift for those with mobility issues, or loads to tote.

Main rooms here all look towards the water (the compromise of the house’s open aspect is that it is prominent to those passing in boats and through picturesque East Ferry across the way): those rooms include one of the two studies, the smaller of the two libraries, and the immense 32’ by 23’ drawing room with Adam-style fireplace, graceful arch and bay window.

To the house’s far end, in the curvaceous Trafalgar Tower, is the 650 sq ft dining

18

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

room, with ornate plasterwork in high ceilings, set off by a 6’ tall black marble chimney piece, and with three sets of French doors to the gardens.

Off outside, nearby, is a walled yard, ornamental pond with fountain, and lawns separately planted with bluebells and daffodils: the next few month are East Grove’s glory days in the gardens, says O’Riordan, who’s seen 26 years of change, and seasonality, here.

As East Grove comes afresh to market, with the setting the equal of the house in a quite perfect package, lovers of stunninglylocated houses might entertain dreams of significant Lotto wins: if there’s any justice, the winning ticket will be in O’Riordan’s young family hands.

If not, he may be willing to work on for another while yet.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Bed buds

Carol O’Callaghan says a comfortable bed and linens are crucial if you want to avoid a restless night’s sleep

SOMETHINGEXTRA This week we love...

■ ...the work of Bob Johnston, a Co Down-based basket maker who has taken this traditional craft and turned it into art. His astonishing renderings of animals have a sculptural quality belying the seeming simplicity of basket craft. Johnston’s work is on display at Fortnum & Mason’s at Piccadilly in London. See bobjohnstonbaskets.co.uk

King Koil, much beloved by five star hotels and endorsed by the International Chiropractic Association, are available for the home bedroom (at New Furniture Centre, priced typically from €999).

Add texture and colour Opting for the in-vogue look of simple plain walls, painted floors and white bed linens? Include a little texture and colour just to add some warmth.

A floral duvet with matching pillowcases is on-trend this season, and if you fancy a change of look from time to time, the reverse features a white spot on a duck-egg background (Rose bed linen from Debenhams €67.50).

A beautifully upholstered chaise longue is a lovely addition to the bedroom as a place to enjoy a quiet moment away from domestic chaos (Floral chaise from TK Maxx €399.99) A throw can look great folded across the end of a white duvet and pulled up on chilly nights.

Check out the Patchwork from Next Interiors (€77).

Cushion right finishing touch Our dear old reliable friend the cushion always looks great as the finishing touch on bed linens propped up against the pillows.

Consider a unit for behind the bed that functions as a headboard and nightstand too (white lacquered and walnut veneer bed €1,495; white lacquered base cabinets, and wall-mounted cabinet €199 each at Bo Concept).

Correct support is absolutely essential in a mattress. The SleepSpa KS gel model aims to support a healthy sleeping alignment for a sound and restorative night’s sleep. From EZ Living Furniture, price according to mattress size.

D

OES size really matter? Yes, it does when it comes to your bed and linens, especially if you have a sleeping partner on the large size or if they happen to be a duvet-hogger.

For decades bed partners were happy with the traditional four foot six bed, but larger houses and our prosperity fuelled larger selves have us indulging in five and six foot versions which are great if you are sleeping with someone restless and don’t want to be disturbed.

But when investing in a new bed, or maybe just a new mattress, bear in mind the importance of the latter far outweighs the choice of bed style.

Afterall, we spend a third of our lives asleep, so when you pop to the shops lie on several options to test them out and

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take off your coat to replicate being in light clothing. And if you are sharing it with someone else, drag them along and insist they test it with you. It’s reckoned a mattress shared by two needs to be replaced every 10 years, which is a long time to sleep on one that isn’t right for you.

Bear in mind larger beds can overwhelm a small room. Divans are great if storage space is tight and you opt for one with drawers set into the base, but their solid appearance may add to the bulk of the bed. They are, however, an excellent option due to their height if you have the misfortune to suffer with back problems, or the early morning creakiness of arthritis, as they are much easier to get out of than low level beds. But if aesthetics are your

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

only concern, a low-level bed on legs with space underneath will seem lighter and not oppressive.

Headboards are a matter of personal taste, although there is a new look for using a shelf unit behind a divan to site a reading lamp and clock, which is a great idea if you lack space for bedside tables. Check out some repeats of Sex and the City and the shelf behind Carrie’s bed to get the picture.

Beds traditionally sit against a wall, but there’s a new vogue for having them in the centre of the room. Mind you, a pretty big room is required to make this work and the headboard would need to be a statement piece finished beautifully behind as well as to the front in case anyone walks behind it. If you have a divan, a low unit behind to stop the

pillows falling off is essential. Fab though this look is in the right environment it’s not something that would appeal long term to those of us who like the sense of security that a bed against the wall provides.

When it comes to linens it’s a very good idea to buy a duvet and top sheet bigger than your bed size if you share it. So if yours is a four foot six double, buy for a five foot king which will be marked 150cm x 200cm on the packaging. This is especially important if you sleep with the bed clothes hogger mentioned earlier and to minimise the 4am chill when hogger steals most of the duvet.

■ Next week we’re looking at multi-functional products for the home.

Gingham, embroidery and naive-style applique come together on the adorable Bicycle cushion cover by Greengate (from Garrendenny Lane Interiors (€59).

Postage stamps, addressed envelopes and billet-doux are all themes on cushions this season like the Carte Postale from Dunnes Stores (€18).

Beautiful linens will transform the look of your bedroom (Lotus by Designers Guild at Windows Interior Designer Library, O’Mahony Interiors, and The Fabulous Fabric Company €110).

Try the off-the-wall look if space allows you to have your bed in the centre of the room. (Malm bed from Ikea €161.63, three-piece surrounding shelf set €161.63).

Rectangular cushions are the shape of the season and in the Birdcage by Matthew Williamson features on-trend embroidery (€42).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

21

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Bed buds

Carol O’Callaghan says a comfortable bed and linens are crucial if you want to avoid a restless night’s sleep

SOMETHINGEXTRA This week we love...

■ ...the work of Bob Johnston, a Co Down-based basket maker who has taken this traditional craft and turned it into art. His astonishing renderings of animals have a sculptural quality belying the seeming simplicity of basket craft. Johnston’s work is on display at Fortnum & Mason’s at Piccadilly in London. See bobjohnstonbaskets.co.uk

King Koil, much beloved by five star hotels and endorsed by the International Chiropractic Association, are available for the home bedroom (at New Furniture Centre, priced typically from €999).

Add texture and colour Opting for the in-vogue look of simple plain walls, painted floors and white bed linens? Include a little texture and colour just to add some warmth.

A floral duvet with matching pillowcases is on-trend this season, and if you fancy a change of look from time to time, the reverse features a white spot on a duck-egg background (Rose bed linen from Debenhams €67.50).

A beautifully upholstered chaise longue is a lovely addition to the bedroom as a place to enjoy a quiet moment away from domestic chaos (Floral chaise from TK Maxx €399.99) A throw can look great folded across the end of a white duvet and pulled up on chilly nights.

Check out the Patchwork from Next Interiors (€77).

Cushion right finishing touch Our dear old reliable friend the cushion always looks great as the finishing touch on bed linens propped up against the pillows.

Consider a unit for behind the bed that functions as a headboard and nightstand too (white lacquered and walnut veneer bed €1,495; white lacquered base cabinets, and wall-mounted cabinet €199 each at Bo Concept).

Correct support is absolutely essential in a mattress. The SleepSpa KS gel model aims to support a healthy sleeping alignment for a sound and restorative night’s sleep. From EZ Living Furniture, price according to mattress size.

D

OES size really matter? Yes, it does when it comes to your bed and linens, especially if you have a sleeping partner on the large size or if they happen to be a duvet-hogger.

For decades bed partners were happy with the traditional four foot six bed, but larger houses and our prosperity fuelled larger selves have us indulging in five and six foot versions which are great if you are sleeping with someone restless and don’t want to be disturbed.

But when investing in a new bed, or maybe just a new mattress, bear in mind the importance of the latter far outweighs the choice of bed style.

Afterall, we spend a third of our lives asleep, so when you pop to the shops lie on several options to test them out and

20

take off your coat to replicate being in light clothing. And if you are sharing it with someone else, drag them along and insist they test it with you. It’s reckoned a mattress shared by two needs to be replaced every 10 years, which is a long time to sleep on one that isn’t right for you.

Bear in mind larger beds can overwhelm a small room. Divans are great if storage space is tight and you opt for one with drawers set into the base, but their solid appearance may add to the bulk of the bed. They are, however, an excellent option due to their height if you have the misfortune to suffer with back problems, or the early morning creakiness of arthritis, as they are much easier to get out of than low level beds. But if aesthetics are your

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

only concern, a low-level bed on legs with space underneath will seem lighter and not oppressive.

Headboards are a matter of personal taste, although there is a new look for using a shelf unit behind a divan to site a reading lamp and clock, which is a great idea if you lack space for bedside tables. Check out some repeats of Sex and the City and the shelf behind Carrie’s bed to get the picture.

Beds traditionally sit against a wall, but there’s a new vogue for having them in the centre of the room. Mind you, a pretty big room is required to make this work and the headboard would need to be a statement piece finished beautifully behind as well as to the front in case anyone walks behind it. If you have a divan, a low unit behind to stop the

pillows falling off is essential. Fab though this look is in the right environment it’s not something that would appeal long term to those of us who like the sense of security that a bed against the wall provides.

When it comes to linens it’s a very good idea to buy a duvet and top sheet bigger than your bed size if you share it. So if yours is a four foot six double, buy for a five foot king which will be marked 150cm x 200cm on the packaging. This is especially important if you sleep with the bed clothes hogger mentioned earlier and to minimise the 4am chill when hogger steals most of the duvet.

■ Next week we’re looking at multi-functional products for the home.

Gingham, embroidery and naive-style applique come together on the adorable Bicycle cushion cover by Greengate (from Garrendenny Lane Interiors (€59).

Postage stamps, addressed envelopes and billet-doux are all themes on cushions this season like the Carte Postale from Dunnes Stores (€18).

Beautiful linens will transform the look of your bedroom (Lotus by Designers Guild at Windows Interior Designer Library, O’Mahony Interiors, and The Fabulous Fabric Company €110).

Try the off-the-wall look if space allows you to have your bed in the centre of the room. (Malm bed from Ikea €161.63, three-piece surrounding shelf set €161.63).

Rectangular cushions are the shape of the season and in the Birdcage by Matthew Williamson features on-trend embroidery (€42).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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DIY

DIY

MAKE MANTEL CENTRE OF ATTRACTION

TIPS FOR SELECTING AND ARRANGING MANTELPIECES: 1. Less is more (it really is). Crowded mantelpieces rarely succeed, unless you have the eye of a great decorator creating a deliberately cosy ganging of things. If you’re frustrated at not getting all your favourites out there, rotate your collection regularly.

2. Choose an odd number for groups.

One wonderful thing can stand alone, and three and five are great group numbers, and for standing pieces a variety of heights allows them all to be seen to be best advantage. For solid tradition, clock ‘garnitures’, with a central clock and two flanking candlesticks holders or supports, are widely available at auction.

What you place on a mantelpiece can add real presence to a focal point in the room, writes Kya deLongchamps

I

N terms of energy efficiency an open fireplace is a curiosity from the past. Gaping into a room from a wide snaking tunnel to the great outdoors, it directs around 70% of any heat generated by a fire straight up the chimney. The role of a real flame fire as a gathering point and primary comfort still holds our hearts, and we naturally look towards a fireplace, lit or not when entering a room. Closing off the opening in favour of a wood or multi-fuel stove with an insulated flu system is the sane alternative. It’s all about control. Still, in the majority of cases the surrounding fireplace and mantel survive, even if our gaze and the furniture arrangement now praise the television rather than the fireside.

A SINGULAR SHELF The mantel is in some cases a signature architectural feature topping magnificent pillared supports, and even at worst is a glorified shelf floating over a standard opening.

It’s generally high and quite wide, so give it the status it deserves by adding treasured pieces you can look at for long periods. If the breast is fading into the surrounding wall make it jump out by painting any recess at its sides a darker colour, or paint or paper the breast itself in an energising design.

If the area has no presence at all, think about installing a wider more impressive overmantel to turn an ordinary fireplace into a real feature.

Anything from a sleeper to a piece of driftwood or reclaimed mantel will do the job once it’s well supported level and sufficiently protected from the heat below.

You can use any stable object you like to decorate the area. Easy-to-clean surfaces are useful as they won’t harbour every spec of the dust generated by even the tightest stove. It’s worth remembering that tantalising articles may attract children to a high shelf overhanging a hot stove or fire.

Always detail a fireplace with an appropriate guard.

REFLECTED GLORY Once you’re have the wall colour sorted out, mirrors are a natural choice for mantels. They have not only multiple light but the muscular frames designed for this area have an unapologetic lookat-me line and decorative finish.

Traditional over-mantels stand on the fireplace, secured on the wall by flat

22

mounts, adding to the outline of the surround with a bold vertical thrust, ideal if the ceiling is pressing down in a cramped room.

A stunning period surround set in a high ceiling room can take a majestic overmantel as large as itself, and if you find a period piece leave a ghosted aging glass in place, it really is part of its charm and value.

If the character of the mantel and fireplace surround stand alone, take the mirror up the wall creating some sense of quiet separation. Use a large mirror that reasonably matches the width of the mantle edge to edge, and keep in mind what they reflect as this becomes a virtual ‘picture’. Mirrors like paintings are made to be looked into, so don’t hang it too high.

When you place things before the mirror, their impact is doubled, great for flowers dressing up an unlit fire surround. If you are using a smaller mirror, sconces, lighting or matching framed artwork on either side creates harmony, bringing the eye up from the side elements of the fireplace, and delivering a relationship.

3. Huddle up. Don’t be afraid to put the members of a group close together in a family of objects. Observers will come closer to examine them, and for small pieces this gives them greater status when viewed from a distance. You can choose a colour, type, texture or contrast to play with in the grouping.

4. Room to breathe. Individual pieces and groups need a framing of nothingness to be seen and to visually ‘breathe’. Let the wall colour bring them into relief.

5. Matches can be loose. When pairing up things for either end of the mantelpiece, experiment with a matching volume of things rather than a standard placement of two identical things. Higher or heavier at one end than the other can be lop-sided to the eye.

A simple opening and slender shelf is balanced by one great ceramic vase and widely splayed display of branches in a bold but relaxing tone on tone display. It really is that easy.

6. Avoid a parade at equal distances.

Placing small, similar ornaments, no matter how lovely, every four inches along a mantle or shelf is an interior decorator disaster. It’s too lineal, formal, uncomfortable and dull.

7. Found materials and naturals. A large glass jar makes a charming host for everything from pebbles to shells. Found materials, including driftwood, bare branches set in a vase, and flowers and cuttings culled form the garden, can set the season over the fireplace.

ARTFUL IDEAS Using symmetry for the hanging pieces, you can replace the mirror with a large piece of artwork in either a picture, wall hung textile or a shallow piece of sculpture. Again, balance the larger piece in the middle on either side, and edge to edge with the mantle below with loosely similar sizes and styles of hanging pieces for visual harmony.

Odd numbers, in this case three (the centrepiece is one and the two flanking making up three) or an implied group of three made up of smaller pieces, works best. We’ll see when adding, freestanding items on the shelf, that odd numbers are a favourite that generally satisfy the eye when placing ornaments.

You don’t have to hang the centre piece of artwork and can rest it casually on the mantelshelf, or even stack a couple of varying size of pictures or mirror on each other, allowing each to be sufficiently seen.

Ensure any unsecured frames are not likely to be tipped forward on a slender surface. When we say ‘artwork’, keep in mind that art is what you value and want to look at. A digital blow up of your child’s first experiment with crayons at Montessori might be just the witty piece you need. Framed up the most humble images can be rendered beautiful.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

8. Go pale. Select sculptural pieces in a pale shade and set them against a pale wall for a modern white-on-white style.

Simple pound-shop buys can look all the money in this setting, but remember, for floral displays, that the vase will be high enough to make a statement on its own.

9. Play with height. In just the same way as you would compose a flower arrangement, juxtapose tall objects to the rear, with smaller pieces nestling at their base. By using taller pieces at the mantle ends, you suggest a frame for the central, wall-mounted pieces and draw attention to the mantle’s length.

Topiary trees and a large gilded mirror offer a serene glamorous finish to a stunning fire surround.

Fishing reels and antlers crowd one end of a mantelpiece in a low, one tone arrangement for a sculptural rustic group.

10. Shining examples. As the mantle is at a nice height for catching light and will enjoy light bouncing back from the fire, the classic additions of brass, silver, and above all glass, are ideal choices for a fresh, sophisticated arrangement. Irish glass is world class. Explore what is on offer from Jerpoint Glass, Duiske, and Tipperary Crystal in major retailers, or from a host of smaller studio glassmakers throughout the country.

DIYTIPS

How to create a citrus fruit and flower arrangement As most mantles are quite high, you can make a gorgeous feature out of what’s in the vase beneath the water. Pebbles, shells, attractive stems and citrus fruit can all make an attractive show. Here’s an easy one for bargain fruit. Ask your local grocer for some damaged or elderly ones (they might even be free!)

WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A net or two of lemons and oranges enough to fill your vase ■ A large deep clear or lightly tinted glass vase ■ Flowers in season. Tulips are ideal (use bold twiggy branches if you can’t stretch to fresh flowers)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Put one lemon and orange aside.

Trim your flowers to three heights in three groups.

Fill the vase about three quarters with whole fruit, wedging them in to keep the lemons in place when the water is added.

Cut slices from the reserved fruit and slide it down the inside sides of the vase here and there.

Top with water.

Thread your flowers through the whole fruit for support. The tallest at the centre the shorter out to the sides.

Place one or two whole fruits at the base of the vase on the mantle for added interest.

Q&A

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

Q. I have heard that a stove with a back-boiler will not throw out as much heat to the room as a stove without one. How can I be sure to balance heat output with boiler performance?

question, the living area would need a min. of a 6kW stove. It is often a good idea to buy a stove with a little extra output capacity, in this case, perhaps a 7 or 8 kW stove.

A. When investigating the type of stove you need to compare the heat output to the boiler and the heat output to the room, and choose a stove that has the correct output for the number of radiators and the correct output for the size of the room.

Q. My chimney breast feels hot when I use my fireplace. Is this a potential fire hazard?

Q. My chimney is smoking even after having the chimney swept. What should be done?

A. If it is a false chimney breast constructed from flammable materials, the answer could be yes. If your chimney breast is constructed from concrete using correct building practices, there is no need to be concerned.

■ Answers provided by Greg A. There can be different causes to a Chlodnicki of SHL Distributors Ltd smoking fireplace/stove. Usually the (chimney specialists) Kinsale Road fitting of a particular type of chimney Commercial Centre, Cork. Tel: 021 cowl, such as a spinning cowl or electric 4310999 cowl, will prevent this. Talking to specialist company such as ourselves will aid you in making the correct product choice.

Q. My living area is 15’ by 18’ with a 12’ ceiling. What output of wood burner do I need to keep the space warm?

A. 1kW will approx. heat 15 cubic metres of an average insulated room.

Using the dimensions from the

Stove with back boiler from SHL Distributors, Cork.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

23

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:12:03:09Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:22

Zone:XP1

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DIY

DIY

MAKE MANTEL CENTRE OF ATTRACTION

TIPS FOR SELECTING AND ARRANGING MANTELPIECES: 1. Less is more (it really is). Crowded mantelpieces rarely succeed, unless you have the eye of a great decorator creating a deliberately cosy ganging of things. If you’re frustrated at not getting all your favourites out there, rotate your collection regularly.

2. Choose an odd number for groups.

One wonderful thing can stand alone, and three and five are great group numbers, and for standing pieces a variety of heights allows them all to be seen to be best advantage. For solid tradition, clock ‘garnitures’, with a central clock and two flanking candlesticks holders or supports, are widely available at auction.

What you place on a mantelpiece can add real presence to a focal point in the room, writes Kya deLongchamps

I

N terms of energy efficiency an open fireplace is a curiosity from the past. Gaping into a room from a wide snaking tunnel to the great outdoors, it directs around 70% of any heat generated by a fire straight up the chimney. The role of a real flame fire as a gathering point and primary comfort still holds our hearts, and we naturally look towards a fireplace, lit or not when entering a room. Closing off the opening in favour of a wood or multi-fuel stove with an insulated flu system is the sane alternative. It’s all about control. Still, in the majority of cases the surrounding fireplace and mantel survive, even if our gaze and the furniture arrangement now praise the television rather than the fireside.

A SINGULAR SHELF The mantel is in some cases a signature architectural feature topping magnificent pillared supports, and even at worst is a glorified shelf floating over a standard opening.

It’s generally high and quite wide, so give it the status it deserves by adding treasured pieces you can look at for long periods. If the breast is fading into the surrounding wall make it jump out by painting any recess at its sides a darker colour, or paint or paper the breast itself in an energising design.

If the area has no presence at all, think about installing a wider more impressive overmantel to turn an ordinary fireplace into a real feature.

Anything from a sleeper to a piece of driftwood or reclaimed mantel will do the job once it’s well supported level and sufficiently protected from the heat below.

You can use any stable object you like to decorate the area. Easy-to-clean surfaces are useful as they won’t harbour every spec of the dust generated by even the tightest stove. It’s worth remembering that tantalising articles may attract children to a high shelf overhanging a hot stove or fire.

Always detail a fireplace with an appropriate guard.

REFLECTED GLORY Once you’re have the wall colour sorted out, mirrors are a natural choice for mantels. They have not only multiple light but the muscular frames designed for this area have an unapologetic lookat-me line and decorative finish.

Traditional over-mantels stand on the fireplace, secured on the wall by flat

22

mounts, adding to the outline of the surround with a bold vertical thrust, ideal if the ceiling is pressing down in a cramped room.

A stunning period surround set in a high ceiling room can take a majestic overmantel as large as itself, and if you find a period piece leave a ghosted aging glass in place, it really is part of its charm and value.

If the character of the mantel and fireplace surround stand alone, take the mirror up the wall creating some sense of quiet separation. Use a large mirror that reasonably matches the width of the mantle edge to edge, and keep in mind what they reflect as this becomes a virtual ‘picture’. Mirrors like paintings are made to be looked into, so don’t hang it too high.

When you place things before the mirror, their impact is doubled, great for flowers dressing up an unlit fire surround. If you are using a smaller mirror, sconces, lighting or matching framed artwork on either side creates harmony, bringing the eye up from the side elements of the fireplace, and delivering a relationship.

3. Huddle up. Don’t be afraid to put the members of a group close together in a family of objects. Observers will come closer to examine them, and for small pieces this gives them greater status when viewed from a distance. You can choose a colour, type, texture or contrast to play with in the grouping.

4. Room to breathe. Individual pieces and groups need a framing of nothingness to be seen and to visually ‘breathe’. Let the wall colour bring them into relief.

5. Matches can be loose. When pairing up things for either end of the mantelpiece, experiment with a matching volume of things rather than a standard placement of two identical things. Higher or heavier at one end than the other can be lop-sided to the eye.

A simple opening and slender shelf is balanced by one great ceramic vase and widely splayed display of branches in a bold but relaxing tone on tone display. It really is that easy.

6. Avoid a parade at equal distances.

Placing small, similar ornaments, no matter how lovely, every four inches along a mantle or shelf is an interior decorator disaster. It’s too lineal, formal, uncomfortable and dull.

7. Found materials and naturals. A large glass jar makes a charming host for everything from pebbles to shells. Found materials, including driftwood, bare branches set in a vase, and flowers and cuttings culled form the garden, can set the season over the fireplace.

ARTFUL IDEAS Using symmetry for the hanging pieces, you can replace the mirror with a large piece of artwork in either a picture, wall hung textile or a shallow piece of sculpture. Again, balance the larger piece in the middle on either side, and edge to edge with the mantle below with loosely similar sizes and styles of hanging pieces for visual harmony.

Odd numbers, in this case three (the centrepiece is one and the two flanking making up three) or an implied group of three made up of smaller pieces, works best. We’ll see when adding, freestanding items on the shelf, that odd numbers are a favourite that generally satisfy the eye when placing ornaments.

You don’t have to hang the centre piece of artwork and can rest it casually on the mantelshelf, or even stack a couple of varying size of pictures or mirror on each other, allowing each to be sufficiently seen.

Ensure any unsecured frames are not likely to be tipped forward on a slender surface. When we say ‘artwork’, keep in mind that art is what you value and want to look at. A digital blow up of your child’s first experiment with crayons at Montessori might be just the witty piece you need. Framed up the most humble images can be rendered beautiful.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

8. Go pale. Select sculptural pieces in a pale shade and set them against a pale wall for a modern white-on-white style.

Simple pound-shop buys can look all the money in this setting, but remember, for floral displays, that the vase will be high enough to make a statement on its own.

9. Play with height. In just the same way as you would compose a flower arrangement, juxtapose tall objects to the rear, with smaller pieces nestling at their base. By using taller pieces at the mantle ends, you suggest a frame for the central, wall-mounted pieces and draw attention to the mantle’s length.

Topiary trees and a large gilded mirror offer a serene glamorous finish to a stunning fire surround.

Fishing reels and antlers crowd one end of a mantelpiece in a low, one tone arrangement for a sculptural rustic group.

10. Shining examples. As the mantle is at a nice height for catching light and will enjoy light bouncing back from the fire, the classic additions of brass, silver, and above all glass, are ideal choices for a fresh, sophisticated arrangement. Irish glass is world class. Explore what is on offer from Jerpoint Glass, Duiske, and Tipperary Crystal in major retailers, or from a host of smaller studio glassmakers throughout the country.

DIYTIPS

How to create a citrus fruit and flower arrangement As most mantles are quite high, you can make a gorgeous feature out of what’s in the vase beneath the water. Pebbles, shells, attractive stems and citrus fruit can all make an attractive show. Here’s an easy one for bargain fruit. Ask your local grocer for some damaged or elderly ones (they might even be free!)

WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A net or two of lemons and oranges enough to fill your vase ■ A large deep clear or lightly tinted glass vase ■ Flowers in season. Tulips are ideal (use bold twiggy branches if you can’t stretch to fresh flowers)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Put one lemon and orange aside.

Trim your flowers to three heights in three groups.

Fill the vase about three quarters with whole fruit, wedging them in to keep the lemons in place when the water is added.

Cut slices from the reserved fruit and slide it down the inside sides of the vase here and there.

Top with water.

Thread your flowers through the whole fruit for support. The tallest at the centre the shorter out to the sides.

Place one or two whole fruits at the base of the vase on the mantle for added interest.

Q&A

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

Q. I have heard that a stove with a back-boiler will not throw out as much heat to the room as a stove without one. How can I be sure to balance heat output with boiler performance?

question, the living area would need a min. of a 6kW stove. It is often a good idea to buy a stove with a little extra output capacity, in this case, perhaps a 7 or 8 kW stove.

A. When investigating the type of stove you need to compare the heat output to the boiler and the heat output to the room, and choose a stove that has the correct output for the number of radiators and the correct output for the size of the room.

Q. My chimney breast feels hot when I use my fireplace. Is this a potential fire hazard?

Q. My chimney is smoking even after having the chimney swept. What should be done?

A. If it is a false chimney breast constructed from flammable materials, the answer could be yes. If your chimney breast is constructed from concrete using correct building practices, there is no need to be concerned.

■ Answers provided by Greg A. There can be different causes to a Chlodnicki of SHL Distributors Ltd smoking fireplace/stove. Usually the (chimney specialists) Kinsale Road fitting of a particular type of chimney Commercial Centre, Cork. Tel: 021 cowl, such as a spinning cowl or electric 4310999 cowl, will prevent this. Talking to specialist company such as ourselves will aid you in making the correct product choice.

Q. My living area is 15’ by 18’ with a 12’ ceiling. What output of wood burner do I need to keep the space warm?

A. 1kW will approx. heat 15 cubic metres of an average insulated room.

Using the dimensions from the

Stove with back boiler from SHL Distributors, Cork.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

23

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:13:01:38Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:24

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WISH LIST Heading into spring and the season when weddings are prolific, do you fork out for a token gift, or something more substantial?

Carol O’Callaghan has a few ideas

Stainless steel and hard to clean wood used to be the only options for meat carving trays. Now Joseph Joseph's Cut & Carve Plus is scrubbable without too much effort involved and looks good in its aubergine finish (from €18.95 at Brown Thomas).

Trends of grey, hessian and patchwork are brought together in the LOVE cushion (from Meadows & Byrne €21.95).

Domestic gods and goddesses who like to grind fresh spices and pulverise herbs might welcome a mortar and pestle. This model features a spout, which doubles up as a rest for the pestle (from Debenhams, approx €25).

Changing a light shade in a room can make a huge impact on the atmosphere, so your newlyweds may welcome a fresh look.

Consider a strong colour mix to ring the changes (Red & Blue shade fron Next Interiors, €18).

Rugs are perfect for softening up our timber floors.

Natuzzi’s Radar combines the current vogue for grey with just a touch of pattern, so all the specks of wear and tear don’t show too much (€419, from Square Deal Interiors).

Our love of candles continues regardless of season. Check out the giant tinted glass version from Dunnes, perfect as the centre-piece on a coffee table (approx. €45).

Mugs are a welcome gift, but don’t buy flowery patterns if the recipients are into a modern look. Check out these versions, emblazoned with modern graphics, themes and shapes (approx. €7, from M&S).

Cork-based furniture-maker Denis Cotter’s latest piece is the Posa coffee table made from spalted Irish ash detailed in walnut — the latter spelling out the word ‘posa’ in Ogham, which means marriage in Irish (from www.alluafurnituredesign.ie, €700).

24

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

The Bog Standard Clover, Linen and Orchard Candle Set, €17.95 is a pretty candle collection encompassing the scents of the Irish landscape. Available at Kilkenny shops.

Large American style fridge freezers are the aspirational kitchen appliance but can take up a great deal of room. Try a more slimline alternative like the stainless steel model by Siemens (from Soundstore, JJ Dwyer Electrical, Kube and MD O'Sheas €1,139).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

25

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:01/03/2012Time:13:01:38Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:24

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V2

XP1 - V2

WISH LIST Heading into spring and the season when weddings are prolific, do you fork out for a token gift, or something more substantial?

Carol O’Callaghan has a few ideas

Stainless steel and hard to clean wood used to be the only options for meat carving trays. Now Joseph Joseph's Cut & Carve Plus is scrubbable without too much effort involved and looks good in its aubergine finish (from €18.95 at Brown Thomas).

Trends of grey, hessian and patchwork are brought together in the LOVE cushion (from Meadows & Byrne €21.95).

Domestic gods and goddesses who like to grind fresh spices and pulverise herbs might welcome a mortar and pestle. This model features a spout, which doubles up as a rest for the pestle (from Debenhams, approx €25).

Changing a light shade in a room can make a huge impact on the atmosphere, so your newlyweds may welcome a fresh look.

Consider a strong colour mix to ring the changes (Red & Blue shade fron Next Interiors, €18).

Rugs are perfect for softening up our timber floors.

Natuzzi’s Radar combines the current vogue for grey with just a touch of pattern, so all the specks of wear and tear don’t show too much (€419, from Square Deal Interiors).

Our love of candles continues regardless of season. Check out the giant tinted glass version from Dunnes, perfect as the centre-piece on a coffee table (approx. €45).

Mugs are a welcome gift, but don’t buy flowery patterns if the recipients are into a modern look. Check out these versions, emblazoned with modern graphics, themes and shapes (approx. €7, from M&S).

Cork-based furniture-maker Denis Cotter’s latest piece is the Posa coffee table made from spalted Irish ash detailed in walnut — the latter spelling out the word ‘posa’ in Ogham, which means marriage in Irish (from www.alluafurnituredesign.ie, €700).

24

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

The Bog Standard Clover, Linen and Orchard Candle Set, €17.95 is a pretty candle collection encompassing the scents of the Irish landscape. Available at Kilkenny shops.

Large American style fridge freezers are the aspirational kitchen appliance but can take up a great deal of room. Try a more slimline alternative like the stainless steel model by Siemens (from Soundstore, JJ Dwyer Electrical, Kube and MD O'Sheas €1,139).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

I’m deciding on flooring for my new home, but with so many options how do I decide?

A. Flooring is usually the first thing people notice in a room and sets the mood of the space. The first thing that you should keep in mind is functionality — for example, wooden flooring may suit a bedroom but not a bathroom. Next, consider the style of your home and room and which flooring will best complement this. Natural materials, such as wool carpet, will give the room a homely feel, whereas manmade ones such as resin will give it a modern edge.

Maintenance is another important factor when choosing your flooring.

For the time poor, low-maintenance stone tiles or pre-sealed wooden floors may be a good choice. Whatever you choose, always go to a reputable flooring specialist and don’t rush the decision — because if you make the wrong one, you may have to live with it for years!

Q. My wife wants to get solid timber flooring for our living room, but I think laminate would be better — who’s right?

A. Both of you are! Generally, solid timber flooring looks more beautiful and with proper care can last a lifetime.

Hard-wearing washed oak or ash engineered wood flooring is very on trend right now. And if it does get damaged, solid timber is easier to repair or refinish than laminate. On the other hand, laminate flooring is more scratch, stain, fade and moisture

1

There is a new guru in town to help you shop for gifts for your loved ones. Giftguru.ie is based in Cork and is recently open for business. It was set up by Mary Leahy & Oonagh Levis who have many years experience in the gift market, being the owners of Town & Country Hampers. It offers gifts for all occasions, from birthdays to new babies, and offers a complementary wrapping service and free delivery for orders over €50. For Joseph Joseph kitchen stock, garden delights or an eclectic mix of cards look no further for your gift needs.

■ www.giftguru.ie

26

T

Q. I’m sick of the carpet on my stairs — any ideas?

A. From tartan to animal print, carpets have been deliciously reinvented in recent years — and your stairway is the perfect place to make a statement.

Stripes are big for stairs this spring — think bold raspberry and lime green or orange and mud brown. When replacing the carpet on your stairs, accurate measurements are key — you can find out how to do this yourself on www.diytoday.net — or your carpet store will be happy to help. Carpet can be installed using either the waterfall method, where a single piece of carpet is used to cover the stairs from top to bottom, or the cap and band method, individually cut and fastened on each step. Take a look at the creative carpets

by Crucial Trading available from GO’C Carpets (01- 8601845).

Q. What type of tiles do you recommend for my bathroom?

A. Tiles are a no-brainer for the bathroom, but large or small, ceramic or glass, plain or patterned, deciding which ones isn’t quite as simple. Durable, easy to clean and readily available, ceramic tiles are the most popular. But porcelain or marble mosaics are my personal

2

Right: Carpeted stairs idea. Left: Stair carpet by GO'C Carpets, €38.99 per yard — 01- 8601845. Below: Solid Timber Flooring by Garolagh Solid Timber Flooring, Co Louth — www.garrolaghwoodfloors.com

favourite. Some advantages of mosaic tiles are that they are suitable for both walls and floors, non-slip and can be used to create your own design.

Scattered mosaics are big news for bathrooms in 2012 — such as a black feature wall with scattered silver or grey pieces.

Cut down on cost by focusing on wet areas such as the floor and shower, rather than the entire bathroom. TileStyle in Dublin have an amazing range of mosaics.

See www.tilestyle.ie.

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

My Deco

3

Sweetpea and Willow

This is a slick website with some gorgeous products. It is divided into products and designers so is easy to find your way around. Categories can be broken down into price, colour, size, delivery time, material and styles.

“We believe that being a little bit braver with your home will make you smile every time you walk through the front door”, is a part of their ‘manifesto’ on their site and who can argue with that. It also has a handy design tool on its site to allow you to revamp your home in realistic 3D for free.

Our colleagues across the water have now a dedicated Irish branch for us here in the Emerald Isle. And the site is as pretty as its name.

Specialising in French Furniture, this will breathe a gorgeous European life into any room. Think chaise longues, hand carved mirrors, and fabulous upholstered chairs. It caters for those looking for bedrooms for little princesses, French chabby chic look and a Provençal Garden twist. It also has an opulent antique section and a garden furniture category worth a peek.

■ www.mydeco.com

■ www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Doing the dirty deed There is no way around the septic tank charge so you may as well find out where yours is located, says Kya deLongchamps

resistant than the real deal — so is perfect for high traffic areas like the living room. From bamboo to beech, laminate has also come on so much in recent years that it’s often hard to tell the difference. Both types of flooring have their pluses and minuses — ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

WEB WATCH Gift Guru

This week interior designer Aisling O’Toole, otooleaisling@gmail.com, answers all your flooring queries. Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Scrambling for car tax forms and vehicle registration certs could be a thing of the past with this neat little folder to keep all your files safe. From the www.giftguru.ie. €15.95.

he European Court of Justice ruled in 2009 that Ireland had broken the EU waste directive for failing to enact legislation to deal with domestic waste water from septic tanks and other treatment systems. We were in the pipeline for some stinking multimillion-euro fines per day for non-compliance, so moves have been afoot since last year to clean up our act and flush out the troublemakers poisoning our groundwater and waterways.

The Water Services (Amendment) Bill comes into force at the end of this month.

If you don’t know where your tank is or how it’s performing, it’s time to show even a mild interest, as every unit in Ireland is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year. The first thing to do is to get registered.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, has announced that the proposed and widely condemned registration charge of €50 has been reduced to just €5 per unit.

There are conditions. When the registration system comes into place on Mar 31, home owners must volunteer their details by Jun 30 to avail of the early-bird fee. If you leave it too late, the €50 charge comes into play. Incentive indeed for the 418,000 households using a private sewage system.

Everyone with a tank is required to register their tank

by March of 2013 and not registering at all could result in a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Mr Hogan has said there will be ‘financial aid’ where needed to bring faulty septic systems into line. No further details were given on the amounts that could be made available, but the minister made it clear

Every septic tank is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year.

that in most cases, clearing out the tank is expected to resolve the problems associated with a faulty performance which could potentially pollute groundwater.

Local authority staff already employed will carry out the inspections after a period of appropriate training with the Environmental Protection Agency. It appears that tanks ringing an area will be inspected if groundwater is regarded as at risk of pollution, rather than every single tank in Ireland being looked at.

If you are requested to comply with an inspection, do you know where your tank is or how to lift the cover?

I will admit having only occasionally peered down a couple of mysterious pipes jutting from the bowels of my recently constructed tank with a poke of a torch. It’s heavily grown over, fenced off in the centre of a very woolly paddock, calmly, consistently and silently swallowing our waste. In truth, we should all inspect our own tanks at the very least every couple of years.

If you have a map of the property, the tank and soakaway should be on there, but if you are not sure where it is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. If it’s an untended, older tank, be careful that the ground below you is stable, as livestock, ground movement and machinery passing over an unprotected tank may have made it structurally unsound.

What is a septic tank exactly? Well, it’s basically a settlement container divided in two by baffles (to prevent surges when in use), in which your waste water from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom is separated by simple gravity.

There is a solid sludge at the bottom, an oily scum on the top and a relatively clear liquid caught between the two more viscous layers.

In modern sophisticated systems the liquid is treated before discharge and is clean enough to feed decorative ponds and marsh beds. In a classic old-style tank, it is run out untreated into an attached drainage area called a soakaway directly from the tank.

You should know where your soakaway area is and if you find your tank is discharging

How to keep your septic tank healthy

Y

A excavator installs a septic tank. If you are not sure where your septic tank is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. Picture: Jupiter Images

straight into a watercourse or open ditch, it needs to be inspected by a professional immediately.

If the soakaway is not designed properly liquid including rainwater can back up into the septic tank.

Your tank should also be inspected if there are foul smells, ponding of any liquid in the drainage area or blockages you can’t move yourself with a simple rodding procedure of what is termed ‘gross solids’.

If the tank is clearly not separating and digesting waste, the biological balance in the tank may be impaired by a deluge of chemicals and household waste, and dropping

a dead rat down there is unlikely to get things moving again. Pumping will clear the system and remove the developing lake of solids which can back up and poison the surrounding environment.

Details of the nationwide registration of septic systems will be announced shortly.

Check your national and local press for further details or call your local authority for registration information.

Pumping costs will vary according to your location but start at around €220 for a standard job by a local firm.

An appeal system is in place for re-inspection by the home owner, at a cost not to exceed €200.

our septic system is a well balanced biological ingesting ‘machine’ and you need to feed it with some care.

You should consider the type and source of the waste going into the system and the amount of watery fluid passing through it day to day.

Never put paint or any chemistry down the drains to your sewerage system and go easy on bleach products.

These can upset the ecosystem needed for the tank to perform well.

Low phosphate household products marked ‘suitable for septic tanks’ are ideal, and where possible use alternative green solutions, such as lemon juice and plain boiled water to clean and clear blockages of sink traps.

Put a strainer on your kitchen sink drain hole to prevent odds and sods going down the pipes and strain off grease and oils and put them in the household rubbish.

Waste disposal units in kitchens and using a lot of water day-to-day puts extra pressure on the system.

Your tank should not be taking in the rainwater from the roof or driveway gutters, as the balance of intake and output are critical to its working success.

An undersized tank will not be able to cope with an significant increase in the household as extra flushes of the toilet, more baths, laundry and kitchen activity become overwhelming.

Consult a professional, and before any pumping out, ensure they have a current Waste Collection Permit for your county.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

I’m deciding on flooring for my new home, but with so many options how do I decide?

A. Flooring is usually the first thing people notice in a room and sets the mood of the space. The first thing that you should keep in mind is functionality — for example, wooden flooring may suit a bedroom but not a bathroom. Next, consider the style of your home and room and which flooring will best complement this. Natural materials, such as wool carpet, will give the room a homely feel, whereas manmade ones such as resin will give it a modern edge.

Maintenance is another important factor when choosing your flooring.

For the time poor, low-maintenance stone tiles or pre-sealed wooden floors may be a good choice. Whatever you choose, always go to a reputable flooring specialist and don’t rush the decision — because if you make the wrong one, you may have to live with it for years!

Q. My wife wants to get solid timber flooring for our living room, but I think laminate would be better — who’s right?

A. Both of you are! Generally, solid timber flooring looks more beautiful and with proper care can last a lifetime.

Hard-wearing washed oak or ash engineered wood flooring is very on trend right now. And if it does get damaged, solid timber is easier to repair or refinish than laminate. On the other hand, laminate flooring is more scratch, stain, fade and moisture

1

There is a new guru in town to help you shop for gifts for your loved ones. Giftguru.ie is based in Cork and is recently open for business. It was set up by Mary Leahy & Oonagh Levis who have many years experience in the gift market, being the owners of Town & Country Hampers. It offers gifts for all occasions, from birthdays to new babies, and offers a complementary wrapping service and free delivery for orders over €50. For Joseph Joseph kitchen stock, garden delights or an eclectic mix of cards look no further for your gift needs.

■ www.giftguru.ie

26

T

Q. I’m sick of the carpet on my stairs — any ideas?

A. From tartan to animal print, carpets have been deliciously reinvented in recent years — and your stairway is the perfect place to make a statement.

Stripes are big for stairs this spring — think bold raspberry and lime green or orange and mud brown. When replacing the carpet on your stairs, accurate measurements are key — you can find out how to do this yourself on www.diytoday.net — or your carpet store will be happy to help. Carpet can be installed using either the waterfall method, where a single piece of carpet is used to cover the stairs from top to bottom, or the cap and band method, individually cut and fastened on each step. Take a look at the creative carpets

by Crucial Trading available from GO’C Carpets (01- 8601845).

Q. What type of tiles do you recommend for my bathroom?

A. Tiles are a no-brainer for the bathroom, but large or small, ceramic or glass, plain or patterned, deciding which ones isn’t quite as simple. Durable, easy to clean and readily available, ceramic tiles are the most popular. But porcelain or marble mosaics are my personal

2

Right: Carpeted stairs idea. Left: Stair carpet by GO'C Carpets, €38.99 per yard — 01- 8601845. Below: Solid Timber Flooring by Garolagh Solid Timber Flooring, Co Louth — www.garrolaghwoodfloors.com

favourite. Some advantages of mosaic tiles are that they are suitable for both walls and floors, non-slip and can be used to create your own design.

Scattered mosaics are big news for bathrooms in 2012 — such as a black feature wall with scattered silver or grey pieces.

Cut down on cost by focusing on wet areas such as the floor and shower, rather than the entire bathroom. TileStyle in Dublin have an amazing range of mosaics.

See www.tilestyle.ie.

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

My Deco

3

Sweetpea and Willow

This is a slick website with some gorgeous products. It is divided into products and designers so is easy to find your way around. Categories can be broken down into price, colour, size, delivery time, material and styles.

“We believe that being a little bit braver with your home will make you smile every time you walk through the front door”, is a part of their ‘manifesto’ on their site and who can argue with that. It also has a handy design tool on its site to allow you to revamp your home in realistic 3D for free.

Our colleagues across the water have now a dedicated Irish branch for us here in the Emerald Isle. And the site is as pretty as its name.

Specialising in French Furniture, this will breathe a gorgeous European life into any room. Think chaise longues, hand carved mirrors, and fabulous upholstered chairs. It caters for those looking for bedrooms for little princesses, French chabby chic look and a Provençal Garden twist. It also has an opulent antique section and a garden furniture category worth a peek.

■ www.mydeco.com

■ www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

Doing the dirty deed There is no way around the septic tank charge so you may as well find out where yours is located, says Kya deLongchamps

resistant than the real deal — so is perfect for high traffic areas like the living room. From bamboo to beech, laminate has also come on so much in recent years that it’s often hard to tell the difference. Both types of flooring have their pluses and minuses — ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

WEB WATCH Gift Guru

This week interior designer Aisling O’Toole, otooleaisling@gmail.com, answers all your flooring queries. Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Scrambling for car tax forms and vehicle registration certs could be a thing of the past with this neat little folder to keep all your files safe. From the www.giftguru.ie. €15.95.

he European Court of Justice ruled in 2009 that Ireland had broken the EU waste directive for failing to enact legislation to deal with domestic waste water from septic tanks and other treatment systems. We were in the pipeline for some stinking multimillion-euro fines per day for non-compliance, so moves have been afoot since last year to clean up our act and flush out the troublemakers poisoning our groundwater and waterways.

The Water Services (Amendment) Bill comes into force at the end of this month.

If you don’t know where your tank is or how it’s performing, it’s time to show even a mild interest, as every unit in Ireland is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year. The first thing to do is to get registered.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, has announced that the proposed and widely condemned registration charge of €50 has been reduced to just €5 per unit.

There are conditions. When the registration system comes into place on Mar 31, home owners must volunteer their details by Jun 30 to avail of the early-bird fee. If you leave it too late, the €50 charge comes into play. Incentive indeed for the 418,000 households using a private sewage system.

Everyone with a tank is required to register their tank

by March of 2013 and not registering at all could result in a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Mr Hogan has said there will be ‘financial aid’ where needed to bring faulty septic systems into line. No further details were given on the amounts that could be made available, but the minister made it clear

Every septic tank is made available to an obligatory inspection if demanded from next year.

that in most cases, clearing out the tank is expected to resolve the problems associated with a faulty performance which could potentially pollute groundwater.

Local authority staff already employed will carry out the inspections after a period of appropriate training with the Environmental Protection Agency. It appears that tanks ringing an area will be inspected if groundwater is regarded as at risk of pollution, rather than every single tank in Ireland being looked at.

If you are requested to comply with an inspection, do you know where your tank is or how to lift the cover?

I will admit having only occasionally peered down a couple of mysterious pipes jutting from the bowels of my recently constructed tank with a poke of a torch. It’s heavily grown over, fenced off in the centre of a very woolly paddock, calmly, consistently and silently swallowing our waste. In truth, we should all inspect our own tanks at the very least every couple of years.

If you have a map of the property, the tank and soakaway should be on there, but if you are not sure where it is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. If it’s an untended, older tank, be careful that the ground below you is stable, as livestock, ground movement and machinery passing over an unprotected tank may have made it structurally unsound.

What is a septic tank exactly? Well, it’s basically a settlement container divided in two by baffles (to prevent surges when in use), in which your waste water from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom is separated by simple gravity.

There is a solid sludge at the bottom, an oily scum on the top and a relatively clear liquid caught between the two more viscous layers.

In modern sophisticated systems the liquid is treated before discharge and is clean enough to feed decorative ponds and marsh beds. In a classic old-style tank, it is run out untreated into an attached drainage area called a soakaway directly from the tank.

You should know where your soakaway area is and if you find your tank is discharging

How to keep your septic tank healthy

Y

A excavator installs a septic tank. If you are not sure where your septic tank is, look downhill of the house for a metal or concrete lid. Picture: Jupiter Images

straight into a watercourse or open ditch, it needs to be inspected by a professional immediately.

If the soakaway is not designed properly liquid including rainwater can back up into the septic tank.

Your tank should also be inspected if there are foul smells, ponding of any liquid in the drainage area or blockages you can’t move yourself with a simple rodding procedure of what is termed ‘gross solids’.

If the tank is clearly not separating and digesting waste, the biological balance in the tank may be impaired by a deluge of chemicals and household waste, and dropping

a dead rat down there is unlikely to get things moving again. Pumping will clear the system and remove the developing lake of solids which can back up and poison the surrounding environment.

Details of the nationwide registration of septic systems will be announced shortly.

Check your national and local press for further details or call your local authority for registration information.

Pumping costs will vary according to your location but start at around €220 for a standard job by a local firm.

An appeal system is in place for re-inspection by the home owner, at a cost not to exceed €200.

our septic system is a well balanced biological ingesting ‘machine’ and you need to feed it with some care.

You should consider the type and source of the waste going into the system and the amount of watery fluid passing through it day to day.

Never put paint or any chemistry down the drains to your sewerage system and go easy on bleach products.

These can upset the ecosystem needed for the tank to perform well.

Low phosphate household products marked ‘suitable for septic tanks’ are ideal, and where possible use alternative green solutions, such as lemon juice and plain boiled water to clean and clear blockages of sink traps.

Put a strainer on your kitchen sink drain hole to prevent odds and sods going down the pipes and strain off grease and oils and put them in the household rubbish.

Waste disposal units in kitchens and using a lot of water day-to-day puts extra pressure on the system.

Your tank should not be taking in the rainwater from the roof or driveway gutters, as the balance of intake and output are critical to its working success.

An undersized tank will not be able to cope with an significant increase in the household as extra flushes of the toilet, more baths, laundry and kitchen activity become overwhelming.

Consult a professional, and before any pumping out, ensure they have a current Waste Collection Permit for your county.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES

A week of big sales for buyers

IN BRIEF

There are three major auctions coming up in the next few days, writes Des O’Sullivan

W

ITH sales at Woodwards, Lynes and Lynes and Marshs Cork, auction goers will be spoiled for choice next week.

The Woodwards sale of antiques, silver and art next Wednesday at 6pm includes a significant and affordable silver section.

The most expensively estimated silver lot is an Irish silver bowl for a dish ring made in Dublin in 1898 and pierced with Oriental figures, birds, buildings, flowers and scrolls. It is estimated at €1,700-€2,200.

The sale includes two silver dish or potato rings, each estimated at

up to €2,000. A set of three George III silver tablespoons with berry bowls made by William Ward of Limerick in 1802 is estimated at €900 to €1,200, as is a Cork silver milk jug bearing Dublin hallmarks for 1831.

Viewing is from 2pm to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm

next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Furniture at Woodwards includes a Georgian sideboard (€800€1,200), a rosewood centre table (€900-€1,200), six mahogany dining chairs (€750-€1,000), a circular satinwood centre table (€800-€1,200), a Regency walnut

davenport (€500-€800), a Regency serving table (€800-€1,200) and a Regency wine cooler (€600-€800).

Artists whose work will feature in the sale include Gretta O’Brien, William Harrington, Terence Attridge Williams, Anne Madden and George Pennefather.

Ships manifest documents Cork’s butter exports

T

HE Cork Butter Exchange was the largest butter market in the world and the city retains a Butter Museum in Shandon to this day.

Butter was exported in large quantities from the city. An important piece of maritime memorabilia from this industrial past features at the Marshs sale in Cork next Saturday at noon.

There is a historic ship’s manifest, framed and dated August 17, 1785.

It contains details of the export of about 50 firkins of new loose butter “in good order and condition”. It was shipped by William Crawford of Cork to

London on a vessel called the Thomas, which was anchored in the river of Cork. The manifest is signed by both William Crawford and Sam Seldon, skipper and master of the Thomas.

The freight charge was 25 shillings.

The sale includes a Georgian glazed breakfront four-door bookcase (€4,000-€5,000) a Regency satinwood bow fronted side cabinet (€4,000-€4,500) and a Georgian giltwood mirror (€2,000-€2,500).

Among the other collectible items is a whimsical poster about pony and donkey races to be run around the Lough in Cork city of February

27, 1898. The advertised donkey and pony races featured numerous humorously named runners and riders. The event, with curious collection of prizes, is believed to have been a hoax.

The sale features a large selection of porcelain and clocks, plus books from a private library at Monkstown, Cork.

Other furniture on offer includes a French ormolu mounted vitrine, a pair of French marble top commodes, a French marble topped side cabinet and a mahogany Chippendale style corner cabinet. Viewing is from next Thursday.

1835

Above: A pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes. Below right: a French ormolu mounted vitrine will be included in Marsh’s auction next Saturday. The Morris putter owned and used by Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris at Christie’s golf sale in London on May 30.

2012

SATURDAY NEXT ANTIQUE AUCTION OF GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN FURNITURE Including Porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Oil Lamps, Table Lamps, Clocks, Quality Mirrors, Paintings and Prints, Large Collection of Books and Records

AT OUR AUCTION ROOMS AT ROCHFORDS LANE Off South Mall/Grand Parade, Cork.

ON SATURDAY NEXT, 10TH MARCH, AT 12 NOON Briefly: Regency Satinwood and inlaid bow fronted Side Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany breakfront four door glazed Secretaire Bookcase, Georgian Mahogany Chippendale Style Corner Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany Inlaid Writing Bureau and other Bureaus, Georgian Mahogany Sideboards, Collection of Mahogany, Georgian and Victorian Bookcases, Georgian Giltwood Overmantel and other gilt Overmantels, Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Georgian Mahogany Linen Press and Wardrobes, French Ormolu mounted Vitrine, Pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes, French inlaid Marquetry ormolu mounted marble topped Side Cabinet, Mahogany and Oak Diningroom Tables, Set of 12, 6 and 4 Mahogany Diningroom Chairs, Occasional Chairs, Easy Chairs, Mahogany Chiffoniers, Large Circular Drawingroom Table (8ft. in diameter), Two Flintlock Antique Pistols.

Large selection of porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Pewter, Oil Lamps, Wall and Mantel Clocks, Oil Paintings, Watercolours, Prints, Chandeliers, and other interesting items.

An interesting Poster of “The Lough Races”, in Cork, dated February, 1898, also framed Bill of Lading of Mr. Wm Crawford, dated 1785, exporting 50 firkins of Butter from Cork Butter Market on the Ship “Thomas”.

Large interesting collection of Books (contents of private Library) including Books by Daniel Corkery, Gavin Duffy, Canon Sheehan, Justin McCarthy MP, G. K. Chesterson, H. Belloc, and other well known Authors

ON VIEW: THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NEXT 8TH AND 9TH MARCH, FROM 10.30 A.M. TO 9.00 P.M. INCLUDING LUNCHTIME AND MORNING OF SALE FROM 10.00 A.M.

More details on www.marshsauctioneers.ie

Marshs Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, 17 South Mall, Cork. Tel 021-4270347 AUCTIONEERING IN CORK FOR 177 YEARS.

28

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

THE MUNSTER ANTIQUE & ART FAIR SUNDAY 11th MARCH MORAN’S SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL 11am - 6pm This is our biggest Fair in Cork in many years. Including in our 32 stands are 10 members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association.

Further details on the Irish Examiner Antique & Fine Art page on Saturday 10th or from robinodon@gmail.com.

THIS IS A HIBERNIAN ANTIQUE FAIRS.

1,300 LOTS Sheppards will offer more than 1,300 lots at three days of sale in Durrow, Co Laois next week. Around 500 lots will be offered at the period furniture sale on Tuesday at 10.30am. On Wednesday lots 501 to 1099 will be offered in a furniture and fine art sale.

The sale on Thursday at 2.30pm will focus on Asian art. .................................................................

WAR MEDAL There will be a sale of 600 lots at O’Donovan & Associates, North Quay, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, next Saturday at 11am. The sale will feature a collection of Waterford Crystal, art, furniture, gold, silver and collectibles including a 1919-21 War of Independence medal with ribbon issued to an unknown recipient in the west Limerick area. .................................................................

ARTWORK SALE The Daniel Corkery artwork featured on this page last week made €520 at the Cork Auction Rooms sale on Sunday. A Michael Collins commemorative plate made €360 and a musket from Castle Bernard, Bandon, sold for €580. .................................................................

OLDCASTLE AUCTION Matthews of Oldcastle will have a sale on the premises auction at Castlecor House, Oldcastle, Co Meath, on March 11 at 1.30pm. .................................................................

GOLF COLLECTION Christie’s will offer the world’s most important private collection of golf art and memorabilia in London on May 30. The 400-lot collection of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of Valderrama Golf Club in Spain is expected to bring in more than £2m. The most expensively estimated lot is Sir John Lavery’s 1920’s painting of The Golf Course at North Berwick (£200,000-£300,000). There are golf clubs and balls used by players including Allan Robertson and Willie Park Snr. .................................................................

LISMORE CASTLE ARTS The main exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts this year is the first solo show in Ireland by Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn.

Staged in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth and Kesselhaus Josephsohn, the exhibition runs from May 12 to Sep 30.

Georgian antiques top items

T

he Lynes and Lynes sale at East Link Business Park, Carrigtwohill next Saturday at noon features a Cork Georgian linen press and a Georgian dining table among 250 lots. There are several antique Cork side tables with estimates from €400-€1,000, chests of drawers, a bedroom suite by Waring and Gillows and a 19th century brass bound military chest. An Irish Regency library chair is estimated at €3,000-€4,000.

The auction features a gilt overmantel mirror.

Silver includes a William Egan Cork salver with the 1966 Jubilee mark. There is a pair of blue and white Chinese vases with lids, Waterford and other glassware, paintings, watercolours and prints. A George III carved marble fireplace tablet is estimated at €1,500-€2,000. Among the books is The Scenery and Character of Cork illustrated by Gladys Leach and three works by Robert Gibbings.

Viewing is from 10am to 7.30pm next Thursday and Friday and on the morning of the sale.

Above: A Irish Georgian linen press is estimated at €1,000-€1,500.

Right: A 19th century military chest It is estimated at €200-€300.

Both are in the Lynes and Lynes auction in Carrigtwohill next Saturday, Mar 10 at 12 noon.

A 1919-21 War of Independence Medal at O’Donovan’s sale in Newcastlewest on Mar 10. It is estimated at €300-€400.

AUCTION OF ANTIQUES, FINE ART, FURNITURE & EFFECTS, ETC Including contents removed from Bishopstown and Ballincollig, on the instructions of executors and clients.

Wednesday next, March 7th at 6pm

SHEPPARD’S Irish Auction House

LYNES & LYNES

AUCTION

Next Saturday 10th March at 12 noon.

Good Cork House Contents Removed To Our Auction Rooms

PARADIGMS AND THE UNEXPECTED Important three-day sale of 1,320 lots to include items from: Powerscourt House, Viceregal Lodge, Castle Durrow, Kennedy Collection Conn.

USA, Kilcoran House, Sommerville Lodge, Dromoland Castle Durrow is located 90 minutes NE of Cork City: M8 (N), at J3 take R433 (R434) to Durrow

VIEWING

Geo table

Card Table

Gretta O’Brien painting

Irish Silver Dish Ring

Featuring 3 house contents, including Furniture & Effects, Antiques, Collectibles, Paintings, Clocks, Porcelain, Crystal glassware, Statues, etc.

Very good selection of Silver.

Full catalogue and details at www.woodward.ie

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 5pm FREE BIDDING SERVICE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND AUCTION JOSEPH

2:00–6:00pm Saturday: 3 March Sunday: 4 March Monday: 5 March

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

Antique dining, drawing room and bedroom furniture, Waterford glass, china, books, paintings, silver and garden furniture.

Viewing this Thursday and Friday 10am-7.30pm. Also morning of auction at our Auction Rooms: Eastlink Business Park,

Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Tel: 021/4389998; 087/2531580 www.lynesandlynes.com

SALE-DAYS Tuesday: 6 March Wednesday: 7 March Thursday: 8 March ORDER CATALOGUE

www.sheppards.ie e-CATALOGUE Free & fully searchable PROXY & PHONE BIDDER

www.sheppards.ie

Lot 320: Photograph by Chancellor of Dublin, Unidentifed Viceregal pageboys

Bid Live via: www.sheppards.ie

D u r ro w • L a o i s Te l : 0 5 7 8 7 4 0 0 0 0 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES

A week of big sales for buyers

IN BRIEF

There are three major auctions coming up in the next few days, writes Des O’Sullivan

W

ITH sales at Woodwards, Lynes and Lynes and Marshs Cork, auction goers will be spoiled for choice next week.

The Woodwards sale of antiques, silver and art next Wednesday at 6pm includes a significant and affordable silver section.

The most expensively estimated silver lot is an Irish silver bowl for a dish ring made in Dublin in 1898 and pierced with Oriental figures, birds, buildings, flowers and scrolls. It is estimated at €1,700-€2,200.

The sale includes two silver dish or potato rings, each estimated at

up to €2,000. A set of three George III silver tablespoons with berry bowls made by William Ward of Limerick in 1802 is estimated at €900 to €1,200, as is a Cork silver milk jug bearing Dublin hallmarks for 1831.

Viewing is from 2pm to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm

next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Furniture at Woodwards includes a Georgian sideboard (€800€1,200), a rosewood centre table (€900-€1,200), six mahogany dining chairs (€750-€1,000), a circular satinwood centre table (€800-€1,200), a Regency walnut

davenport (€500-€800), a Regency serving table (€800-€1,200) and a Regency wine cooler (€600-€800).

Artists whose work will feature in the sale include Gretta O’Brien, William Harrington, Terence Attridge Williams, Anne Madden and George Pennefather.

Ships manifest documents Cork’s butter exports

T

HE Cork Butter Exchange was the largest butter market in the world and the city retains a Butter Museum in Shandon to this day.

Butter was exported in large quantities from the city. An important piece of maritime memorabilia from this industrial past features at the Marshs sale in Cork next Saturday at noon.

There is a historic ship’s manifest, framed and dated August 17, 1785.

It contains details of the export of about 50 firkins of new loose butter “in good order and condition”. It was shipped by William Crawford of Cork to

London on a vessel called the Thomas, which was anchored in the river of Cork. The manifest is signed by both William Crawford and Sam Seldon, skipper and master of the Thomas.

The freight charge was 25 shillings.

The sale includes a Georgian glazed breakfront four-door bookcase (€4,000-€5,000) a Regency satinwood bow fronted side cabinet (€4,000-€4,500) and a Georgian giltwood mirror (€2,000-€2,500).

Among the other collectible items is a whimsical poster about pony and donkey races to be run around the Lough in Cork city of February

27, 1898. The advertised donkey and pony races featured numerous humorously named runners and riders. The event, with curious collection of prizes, is believed to have been a hoax.

The sale features a large selection of porcelain and clocks, plus books from a private library at Monkstown, Cork.

Other furniture on offer includes a French ormolu mounted vitrine, a pair of French marble top commodes, a French marble topped side cabinet and a mahogany Chippendale style corner cabinet. Viewing is from next Thursday.

1835

Above: A pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes. Below right: a French ormolu mounted vitrine will be included in Marsh’s auction next Saturday. The Morris putter owned and used by Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris at Christie’s golf sale in London on May 30.

2012

SATURDAY NEXT ANTIQUE AUCTION OF GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN FURNITURE Including Porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Oil Lamps, Table Lamps, Clocks, Quality Mirrors, Paintings and Prints, Large Collection of Books and Records

AT OUR AUCTION ROOMS AT ROCHFORDS LANE Off South Mall/Grand Parade, Cork.

ON SATURDAY NEXT, 10TH MARCH, AT 12 NOON Briefly: Regency Satinwood and inlaid bow fronted Side Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany breakfront four door glazed Secretaire Bookcase, Georgian Mahogany Chippendale Style Corner Cabinet, Georgian Mahogany Inlaid Writing Bureau and other Bureaus, Georgian Mahogany Sideboards, Collection of Mahogany, Georgian and Victorian Bookcases, Georgian Giltwood Overmantel and other gilt Overmantels, Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Georgian Mahogany Linen Press and Wardrobes, French Ormolu mounted Vitrine, Pair of French inlaid ormolu mounted bombe shaped marble topped Commodes, French inlaid Marquetry ormolu mounted marble topped Side Cabinet, Mahogany and Oak Diningroom Tables, Set of 12, 6 and 4 Mahogany Diningroom Chairs, Occasional Chairs, Easy Chairs, Mahogany Chiffoniers, Large Circular Drawingroom Table (8ft. in diameter), Two Flintlock Antique Pistols.

Large selection of porcelain, China, Ware, Brass, Copper, Pewter, Oil Lamps, Wall and Mantel Clocks, Oil Paintings, Watercolours, Prints, Chandeliers, and other interesting items.

An interesting Poster of “The Lough Races”, in Cork, dated February, 1898, also framed Bill of Lading of Mr. Wm Crawford, dated 1785, exporting 50 firkins of Butter from Cork Butter Market on the Ship “Thomas”.

Large interesting collection of Books (contents of private Library) including Books by Daniel Corkery, Gavin Duffy, Canon Sheehan, Justin McCarthy MP, G. K. Chesterson, H. Belloc, and other well known Authors

ON VIEW: THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NEXT 8TH AND 9TH MARCH, FROM 10.30 A.M. TO 9.00 P.M. INCLUDING LUNCHTIME AND MORNING OF SALE FROM 10.00 A.M.

More details on www.marshsauctioneers.ie

Marshs Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, 17 South Mall, Cork. Tel 021-4270347 AUCTIONEERING IN CORK FOR 177 YEARS.

28

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

THE MUNSTER ANTIQUE & ART FAIR SUNDAY 11th MARCH MORAN’S SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL 11am - 6pm This is our biggest Fair in Cork in many years. Including in our 32 stands are 10 members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association.

Further details on the Irish Examiner Antique & Fine Art page on Saturday 10th or from robinodon@gmail.com.

THIS IS A HIBERNIAN ANTIQUE FAIRS.

1,300 LOTS Sheppards will offer more than 1,300 lots at three days of sale in Durrow, Co Laois next week. Around 500 lots will be offered at the period furniture sale on Tuesday at 10.30am. On Wednesday lots 501 to 1099 will be offered in a furniture and fine art sale.

The sale on Thursday at 2.30pm will focus on Asian art. .................................................................

WAR MEDAL There will be a sale of 600 lots at O’Donovan & Associates, North Quay, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, next Saturday at 11am. The sale will feature a collection of Waterford Crystal, art, furniture, gold, silver and collectibles including a 1919-21 War of Independence medal with ribbon issued to an unknown recipient in the west Limerick area. .................................................................

ARTWORK SALE The Daniel Corkery artwork featured on this page last week made €520 at the Cork Auction Rooms sale on Sunday. A Michael Collins commemorative plate made €360 and a musket from Castle Bernard, Bandon, sold for €580. .................................................................

OLDCASTLE AUCTION Matthews of Oldcastle will have a sale on the premises auction at Castlecor House, Oldcastle, Co Meath, on March 11 at 1.30pm. .................................................................

GOLF COLLECTION Christie’s will offer the world’s most important private collection of golf art and memorabilia in London on May 30. The 400-lot collection of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of Valderrama Golf Club in Spain is expected to bring in more than £2m. The most expensively estimated lot is Sir John Lavery’s 1920’s painting of The Golf Course at North Berwick (£200,000-£300,000). There are golf clubs and balls used by players including Allan Robertson and Willie Park Snr. .................................................................

LISMORE CASTLE ARTS The main exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts this year is the first solo show in Ireland by Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn.

Staged in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth and Kesselhaus Josephsohn, the exhibition runs from May 12 to Sep 30.

Georgian antiques top items

T

he Lynes and Lynes sale at East Link Business Park, Carrigtwohill next Saturday at noon features a Cork Georgian linen press and a Georgian dining table among 250 lots. There are several antique Cork side tables with estimates from €400-€1,000, chests of drawers, a bedroom suite by Waring and Gillows and a 19th century brass bound military chest. An Irish Regency library chair is estimated at €3,000-€4,000.

The auction features a gilt overmantel mirror.

Silver includes a William Egan Cork salver with the 1966 Jubilee mark. There is a pair of blue and white Chinese vases with lids, Waterford and other glassware, paintings, watercolours and prints. A George III carved marble fireplace tablet is estimated at €1,500-€2,000. Among the books is The Scenery and Character of Cork illustrated by Gladys Leach and three works by Robert Gibbings.

Viewing is from 10am to 7.30pm next Thursday and Friday and on the morning of the sale.

Above: A Irish Georgian linen press is estimated at €1,000-€1,500.

Right: A 19th century military chest It is estimated at €200-€300.

Both are in the Lynes and Lynes auction in Carrigtwohill next Saturday, Mar 10 at 12 noon.

A 1919-21 War of Independence Medal at O’Donovan’s sale in Newcastlewest on Mar 10. It is estimated at €300-€400.

AUCTION OF ANTIQUES, FINE ART, FURNITURE & EFFECTS, ETC Including contents removed from Bishopstown and Ballincollig, on the instructions of executors and clients.

Wednesday next, March 7th at 6pm

SHEPPARD’S Irish Auction House

LYNES & LYNES

AUCTION

Next Saturday 10th March at 12 noon.

Good Cork House Contents Removed To Our Auction Rooms

PARADIGMS AND THE UNEXPECTED Important three-day sale of 1,320 lots to include items from: Powerscourt House, Viceregal Lodge, Castle Durrow, Kennedy Collection Conn.

USA, Kilcoran House, Sommerville Lodge, Dromoland Castle Durrow is located 90 minutes NE of Cork City: M8 (N), at J3 take R433 (R434) to Durrow

VIEWING

Geo table

Card Table

Gretta O’Brien painting

Irish Silver Dish Ring

Featuring 3 house contents, including Furniture & Effects, Antiques, Collectibles, Paintings, Clocks, Porcelain, Crystal glassware, Statues, etc.

Very good selection of Silver.

Full catalogue and details at www.woodward.ie

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 5pm FREE BIDDING SERVICE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND AUCTION JOSEPH

2:00–6:00pm Saturday: 3 March Sunday: 4 March Monday: 5 March

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

Antique dining, drawing room and bedroom furniture, Waterford glass, china, books, paintings, silver and garden furniture.

Viewing this Thursday and Friday 10am-7.30pm. Also morning of auction at our Auction Rooms: Eastlink Business Park,

Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Tel: 021/4389998; 087/2531580 www.lynesandlynes.com

SALE-DAYS Tuesday: 6 March Wednesday: 7 March Thursday: 8 March ORDER CATALOGUE

www.sheppards.ie e-CATALOGUE Free & fully searchable PROXY & PHONE BIDDER

www.sheppards.ie

Lot 320: Photograph by Chancellor of Dublin, Unidentifed Viceregal pageboys

Bid Live via: www.sheppards.ie

D u r ro w • L a o i s Te l : 0 5 7 8 7 4 0 0 0 0 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

29

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ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Spring planting A

GARDENNOTES

■ A workshop on ‘Creating a Soft Fruit Garden’ with Susan Turner takes place at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork on Monday from 9am to 2pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

UTUMN may be the time for bulb planting, but in spring it’s much more fun! Back in September I planted a variety of bulbs in shallow pots and containers and put them behind the long, lean-to glasshouse.

Only now as they begin to flower do I take them on little trips around the garden to find more permanent homes.

All I have to do is to dig a hole, pop them in, then firm well before standing back to admire.

The beauty of this arrangement is that you can see exactly where the bulbs are going to look best, where the gaps are, where colour is wanted, and what else is in flower in the vicinity instead of having to rely on a defective memory.

If you are planting a new area from scratch there may be little point in all this temporary potting, but for those with already congested borders, where every push of an autumn trowel seems to produce a crunch of resident bulb or root, the advantages of this spring installation is a far safer bet.

Whether or which, now is the time perhaps to look at bulbs and to make lists for late summer orders. In the meantime, and to sample just such an undertaking, head for the nearest garden centre and bring home a few pots of flowering dwarf bulbs. You will then discover the beauty of this late exercise and see

exactly where the bulbs will give the best return.

Let me give you an example.

Gardeners who grow Magnolia stellata will be quite familiar with the white spidery blooms that appear in April but if you plant a few pots of white Anemone nemorosa or Anemone blanda “White Splendour” beneath its spread (both have similar, white spidery flowers) the magnolia would be greatly enhanced, in bloom and out.

If the bulbs flower before the magnolia, they will surely set up a note of anticipation.

If they flower afterwards, they’ll become echoes of what has passed. And if they all flower together, the bulbs will appear like fallen, miniaturised magnolias! For a pink scheme, one could try planting the crocus sold as “Ladykiller” the flower cup of which is pure white, beneath the branch spread of Magnolia x soulangeana, which boasts pink-tinged, goblet flowers with white insides.

Another scheme could be

For those with congested borders, where every push of a trowel seems to produce a crunch of bulb or root, this spring installation is a far safer bet

Vivid blue Muscari armeniacum, seen here as an additional interest at the base of an orange Fritillaria planting could be used to great effect beneath a silver birch or magnolia.

created using blue bulbs.

Beneath a pure white silver Birch, it is possible to create a stunning scene using Scilla siberica “Spring Beauty” planted in interlocking drifts with the Oxford and Cambridge version of grape hyacinth, Muscari latifolium.

Unlike the common grape

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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■ Fermoy Flower and Garden Club host Caroline and Martin Wilkinson of ‘Gardenwise’, Rockmills, to speak on ‘Garden Maintenance’ on Tuesday at 8pm in the Adair Hall.

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hyacinth with its azure blue pokers above grassy foliage, this Muscari has each bloom set beside a broad, single, shield-like leaf.

Its university connection lies in the two-coloured flower head; Cambridge sky blue leading on top, and Oxford navy blue immediately below.

WORK FOR THE WEEK TREES: As we enter National Tree Week please consider a tree for your garden — even a large specimen if you don’t have the years to see a small one grow tall and stately.

A mature silver Birch at €175 or thereabouts is good value 20ft tall and nearly fully grown. Its branch structure will have a handsome candle-flame shape, and its trunk will be gleaming white. An evergreen Magnolia grandiflora starting at a similar price (moving up of course depending on size), will have a dense, broadly conical shape with leathery, glossy, dark green leaves all of eight inches long. At €60 to €100 it is possible to invest in an established Japanese maple to grace your lawn or act as a focal point.

A mature specimen of tree or large shrub can also be used to mark an occasion. Your choice will delight in the ornamental garden. You must however go to a reputable supplier who will give you a guarantee with your purchase.

■ Aherla Flower and Garden Club host Hanna Huebach to give a floral demonstration on Tuesday at 8pm in the GAA Pavilion, Ovens.

■ Kinsale Flower and Garden Club host Willie Grainger to speak on ‘Gardening Inspiration and Ideas’ on Thursday at 8pm in St Multose Hall.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School have Daniel Crowley to speak on ‘Lawn Maintenance’ on Thursday next at 8pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

They will also advise on how wellsuited it is to the growing conditions you are able to provide. Although it is often easy and inexpensive to take risks with small plants it’s not a good idea when buying expensive specimens. In the Munster area, Nangle and Niesen, Cork, hold a very large variety or semimature and mature ornamental trees and shrubs that are worth viewing at their Aherla complex.

LAVENDER: Lightly shear over lavender hedges, aiming for an even shape, but avoid cutting back into old wood. This is also a good time to plant out new lavender but do remember that it needs a sunny position and freedraining soil. Ensure new plants receive regular watering until established. Lavender’s fibrous roots can find it difficult to make the transition from the nursery’s peaty potting compost into ordinary garden soil. ● Antiques coverage on page 28 and 29

30

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■ The Irish Garden Plant Society meet on Tuesday at 8pm in the SMA Hall, Wilton, Cork. Gerry Harford will talk on ‘Perennials for all seasons’.

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■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday at 8pm in the Westlodge Hotel to hear a talk on ‘Vegetable Growing’.

Interior Doors, from old to new!

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■ A series of events aimed at bringing you back to nature and a sustainable way of living takes place at The Pavilion, Ballygarvan, Cork. www.thepavilion.ie

■ Elma Power will give a teach-in/ work-night to the Blackrock Flower and Garden Club on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Ursuline School.

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■ East Cork Flower Club will have Avril Geary, beauty therapist and image consultant, to speak on Monday at 8pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton.

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■ Cork GIY will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre to hear Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds discuss ‘Seeds and Growing for the New Season’.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie

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Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

After Before

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

We renovate & modernise your existing: Interior Doors, Entrance Doors & Staircases

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

31

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ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Spring planting A

GARDENNOTES

■ A workshop on ‘Creating a Soft Fruit Garden’ with Susan Turner takes place at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork on Monday from 9am to 2pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

UTUMN may be the time for bulb planting, but in spring it’s much more fun! Back in September I planted a variety of bulbs in shallow pots and containers and put them behind the long, lean-to glasshouse.

Only now as they begin to flower do I take them on little trips around the garden to find more permanent homes.

All I have to do is to dig a hole, pop them in, then firm well before standing back to admire.

The beauty of this arrangement is that you can see exactly where the bulbs are going to look best, where the gaps are, where colour is wanted, and what else is in flower in the vicinity instead of having to rely on a defective memory.

If you are planting a new area from scratch there may be little point in all this temporary potting, but for those with already congested borders, where every push of an autumn trowel seems to produce a crunch of resident bulb or root, the advantages of this spring installation is a far safer bet.

Whether or which, now is the time perhaps to look at bulbs and to make lists for late summer orders. In the meantime, and to sample just such an undertaking, head for the nearest garden centre and bring home a few pots of flowering dwarf bulbs. You will then discover the beauty of this late exercise and see

exactly where the bulbs will give the best return.

Let me give you an example.

Gardeners who grow Magnolia stellata will be quite familiar with the white spidery blooms that appear in April but if you plant a few pots of white Anemone nemorosa or Anemone blanda “White Splendour” beneath its spread (both have similar, white spidery flowers) the magnolia would be greatly enhanced, in bloom and out.

If the bulbs flower before the magnolia, they will surely set up a note of anticipation.

If they flower afterwards, they’ll become echoes of what has passed. And if they all flower together, the bulbs will appear like fallen, miniaturised magnolias! For a pink scheme, one could try planting the crocus sold as “Ladykiller” the flower cup of which is pure white, beneath the branch spread of Magnolia x soulangeana, which boasts pink-tinged, goblet flowers with white insides.

Another scheme could be

For those with congested borders, where every push of a trowel seems to produce a crunch of bulb or root, this spring installation is a far safer bet

Vivid blue Muscari armeniacum, seen here as an additional interest at the base of an orange Fritillaria planting could be used to great effect beneath a silver birch or magnolia.

created using blue bulbs.

Beneath a pure white silver Birch, it is possible to create a stunning scene using Scilla siberica “Spring Beauty” planted in interlocking drifts with the Oxford and Cambridge version of grape hyacinth, Muscari latifolium.

Unlike the common grape

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

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■ Fermoy Flower and Garden Club host Caroline and Martin Wilkinson of ‘Gardenwise’, Rockmills, to speak on ‘Garden Maintenance’ on Tuesday at 8pm in the Adair Hall.

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hyacinth with its azure blue pokers above grassy foliage, this Muscari has each bloom set beside a broad, single, shield-like leaf.

Its university connection lies in the two-coloured flower head; Cambridge sky blue leading on top, and Oxford navy blue immediately below.

WORK FOR THE WEEK TREES: As we enter National Tree Week please consider a tree for your garden — even a large specimen if you don’t have the years to see a small one grow tall and stately.

A mature silver Birch at €175 or thereabouts is good value 20ft tall and nearly fully grown. Its branch structure will have a handsome candle-flame shape, and its trunk will be gleaming white. An evergreen Magnolia grandiflora starting at a similar price (moving up of course depending on size), will have a dense, broadly conical shape with leathery, glossy, dark green leaves all of eight inches long. At €60 to €100 it is possible to invest in an established Japanese maple to grace your lawn or act as a focal point.

A mature specimen of tree or large shrub can also be used to mark an occasion. Your choice will delight in the ornamental garden. You must however go to a reputable supplier who will give you a guarantee with your purchase.

■ Aherla Flower and Garden Club host Hanna Huebach to give a floral demonstration on Tuesday at 8pm in the GAA Pavilion, Ovens.

■ Kinsale Flower and Garden Club host Willie Grainger to speak on ‘Gardening Inspiration and Ideas’ on Thursday at 8pm in St Multose Hall.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School have Daniel Crowley to speak on ‘Lawn Maintenance’ on Thursday next at 8pm.

by Charlie Wilkins

They will also advise on how wellsuited it is to the growing conditions you are able to provide. Although it is often easy and inexpensive to take risks with small plants it’s not a good idea when buying expensive specimens. In the Munster area, Nangle and Niesen, Cork, hold a very large variety or semimature and mature ornamental trees and shrubs that are worth viewing at their Aherla complex.

LAVENDER: Lightly shear over lavender hedges, aiming for an even shape, but avoid cutting back into old wood. This is also a good time to plant out new lavender but do remember that it needs a sunny position and freedraining soil. Ensure new plants receive regular watering until established. Lavender’s fibrous roots can find it difficult to make the transition from the nursery’s peaty potting compost into ordinary garden soil. ● Antiques coverage on page 28 and 29

30

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■ The Irish Garden Plant Society meet on Tuesday at 8pm in the SMA Hall, Wilton, Cork. Gerry Harford will talk on ‘Perennials for all seasons’.

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■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday at 8pm in the Westlodge Hotel to hear a talk on ‘Vegetable Growing’.

Interior Doors, from old to new!

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■ A series of events aimed at bringing you back to nature and a sustainable way of living takes place at The Pavilion, Ballygarvan, Cork. www.thepavilion.ie

■ Elma Power will give a teach-in/ work-night to the Blackrock Flower and Garden Club on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Ursuline School.

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■ East Cork Flower Club will have Avril Geary, beauty therapist and image consultant, to speak on Monday at 8pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton.

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■ Cork GIY will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre to hear Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds discuss ‘Seeds and Growing for the New Season’.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie

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Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

After Before

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

We renovate & modernise your existing: Interior Doors, Entrance Doors & Staircases

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TERAPROOF:User:NOELCAMPIONDate:01/03/2012Time:13:25:35Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:30

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 03.03.2012

31

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:01/03/2012Time:12:32:59Edition:03/03/2012PropertyXP0303Page:32

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XP1 - V1

30 Newton Court, Grange, Douglas, Cork

GUIDE PRICE:

€189,000

Aherlamore, Aherla, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€445,000

Apsley, Killumney, Ovens, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€180,000

This is a three bedroom semi-detached house in a prime location, perfectly presented and priced to sell. Accommodation consists of, three bedrooms, family bathroom, reception room and a very large dining room with kitchen. The property has large south facing rear gardens, is within walking distance of Douglas village and has easy accessibility to Cork airport and city.

Close to the villages of Aherla and Kilumney and within a short drive from Cork city and suburbs, this is a Georgian style property with acc. consisting of, 5 bedrooms, 2 en-suite, study, formal reception room and dining room, an enchanting kitchen, breakfast area and T.V. lounge together with a f.f. family bathroom and guest w.c. This is a property which quite simply has the Xfactor in terms of, appearance, style, size and quality in a gorgeous countryside setting.

Substantial circa 0.5 acre site with full planning permission for large detached house. Full planning with no purchasing restrictions, ready to go.

Prime location within walking distance of Kilumney village with nearby National school and access through Apsley Court.

Unique opportunity to avail of historical low building costs.

Full drawings and planning conditions available from agent.

45 Aylsbury Court, Ballincollig, Co. Cork.

Properties Urgently Required NOW!

Moskeigh, Templemartin, Bandon, Co. Cork

A detached property at a semi-detached price. Four bedrooms, huge reception room, kitchen/dining room, family bathroom and gas fired central heating are the basic ingredients. However, location and price are the icing on this particular cake! Aylsbury Downs represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a well constructed and designed house at eye watering price, there are no catches!

Ballincollig, Bandon, Ovens, Bishopstown, Wilton, Douglas.

Cash & Loan Approved Clients Waiting.

Call us for a Meeting to sell your property quickly either on the open Market or discreetly with our ready to go buyers.

Ballincollig: 021 4879007.

Bandon: 023 8844599.

Brendan Bowe: 087 2594481.

This is an exquisite country home flawlessly presented with impeccable quality as standard throughout. Accommodation consists of three fine bedrooms, master ensuite, bathroom, two dedicated reception rooms, together with a sun conservatory as well as an exquisite fitted kitchen complemented by an adjoining utility room.

Outside the property is bounded by a beautiful stone wall and automated gates with a complete wraparound drive, detached garage and manicured lawns.

19 The Spires, Innishannon, Co. Cork

Tullig, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

19 The Priory, Old Chapel, Bandon, Co. Cork

GUIDE PRICE:

GUIDE PRICE:

€195,000

€455,000

GUIDE PRICE:

€150,000

GUIDE PRICE:

GUIDE PRICE:

€280,000

€295,000

This is a stylish home of bespoke standards within the renowned residential enclave of The Spires. Accommodation consists of 4 fine bedrooms with large master en-suite, 5 star bathroom, 3 reception rooms, hobby room, kitchen/dining room, utility room and guest w.c. Enclosed by private south facing walled gardens with a beautiful sun soaked aspect, lawned areas and limestone patio, all located within the Sylvian setting of Innishannon village and less than 14 miles of Cork City.

A traditional farmhouse in a beautiful countryside setting near Ballinascarthy village and close to Clonakilty and Bandon. The property is in flawless condition with gas fired central heating with accommodation consisting of 3 bedrooms, master en-suite, bathroom and guest w.c, reception room and kitchen/dining room with complementing utility room. The property is surrounded by mature trees and hedgerows. Joint Agents: Hodnett Forde Property Services, Clonakilty, 023 88 33367.

An exquisite 4 bedroom detached home in a location that is both sought after, private and exclusive within The Priory. Smashing accommodation, flawlessly presented, includes four bedrooms, master en-suite, two reception rooms, bathroom and guest w.c, together with a beautiful fully fitted kitchen/dining room complemented by a utility area. This is a home of substance, style and a great location presented in a very smart and subtle manner.

Kilpatrick, Bandon, Co. Cork

15 Grange Way, Grange Manor, Ovens, Co. Cork.

Rose Cottage, Kielys Lane, Cloghroe, Co. Cork.

GUIDE PRICE:

€320,000

This is a very impressive country home with exquisite views, superb convenience to both Bandon town and Innishannon village and within twenty minutes direct easy drive of Cork City. The property has generous living accommodation consisting of 5 bedrooms, 2 en-suite, family bathroom and guest w.c, study, 2 reception rooms and enormous fully fitted kitchen/dining room with conservatory and utility room complementing.

Gardens are laid out under lawn and a detached garage is also offered.

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GUIDE PRICE:

€190,000

Located in a secluded private part of Grange Manor, No. 15 is a three storey house with accommodation consisting of, three bedrooms, master en-suite, guest w.c., fully fitted kitchen/dining room and separate lounge.

The rear garden is south east facing and extremely private.

The property is located within a short distance of the Ballincollig by-pass and Ballincollig itself. Ideal starter home.

GUIDE PRICE:

€275,000

Rose Cottage is a quirky lifestyle family home on circa 3/4 of an acre with smashing privacy and wonderful character coupled with super convenience to Tower, Blarney, Ballincollig and Cork city suburbs. The property has been wonderfully maintained as a family home both internally and externally.

For the buyer seeking a property that is a little bit different but with style and character will find Rose Cottage a property worthy of closer attention.

Full planning permission for large extension. Unique, stylish and convenient.